Kyler Phillips
Active 2019–present · rated in 2 editions · peak overall 82.0
Scouting report
Kyler Phillips started training at the Gracie Academy in Torrance, California at three, took part in pankration fights at 12 and had his first MMA fight at 16. He wrestled at Temecula Valley High School and won a California judo title in 2010. He trains at The MMA Lab in Glendale, Arizona. He appeared on The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated in 2018, lost a majority decision to Brad Katona in the quarterfinal, and joined the UFC in 2020. His UFC record is 6-4.
Peak ratings
By edition
Kyler Phillips: a Gracie-trained bantamweight who made the UFC through two routes
He stopped James Gray Jr. in 46 seconds on Dana White's Contender Series 4 in August 2017 without getting a contract. He debuted in the UFC on February 29, 2020 with a decision over Gabriel Silva in a Fight of the Night, then knocked out Cameron Else with elbows 44 seconds into round two in Abu Dhabi that October, a Performance of the Night. Song Yadong lost a unanimous decision to him at UFC 259 in March 2021.
Phillips, attribute by attribute
Boxing. 85. Else was stopped by elbows at 0:44 of round two at UFC on ESPN 16.
Kickboxing. 87, his best striking number. Five of his 12 wins came by KO or TKO.
Wrestling. 82. He wrestled at Temecula Valley High School and won the California Southern Section CIF title at 138 pounds in 2013.
BJJ. 84. Marcelo Rojo tapped to a triangle armbar at 1:48 of round three at UFC 271 in Houston in February 2022.
Strength. 74. Raulian Paiva beat him on a majority decision at UFC on ESPN 27 in July 2021.
Durability. 84. Pedro Munhoz lost a unanimous decision to him at UFC 299 in Miami in March 2024.
Cardio. 88. He went three rounds with Charles Jourdain in Winnipeg in April 2026 in a Fight of the Night, and lost.
Fight IQ. 85. Raoni Barcelos replaced Umar Nurmagomedov as his opponent at UFC on ESPN 50 in August 2023, and Phillips won on the cards.
Striking at 87 and a Gracie base underneath
His grappling background shows in the triangle armbar of Rojo, and he is a Carlson Gracie brown belt. Else lost to his elbows, Song to his scorecards, and Barcelos and Munhoz too. He was an IBJJF blue belt world champion in 2012. For a draft, he is a well-rounded striker.
Strength at 74 and a run of decisions against him
All five of his pro losses came by decision, four of them in the UFC: Paiva, Rob Font at UFC Fight Night 245 in October 2024, Vinicius Oliveira at UFC 318 in July 2025 and Jourdain. Opponents Shore and Assuncao pulled out of fights against him, and he withdrew from a March 2023 fight with Assuncao. A finisher in another slot gives the build an answer to close fights.
Keep exploring
Closest bantamweight profiles to Kyler Phillips, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Mario Bautistabest cardio 89 · weakest strength 74
- Raphael Assuncaobest bjj 88 · weakest strength 74
- Jimmie Riverabest cardio 88 · weakest strength 76
- Rob Fontbest cardio 90 · weakest strength 75
- Bantamweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Protecting your streak: a guide that fits Kyler Phillips's strongest attribute, Cardio.
Draft Kyler Phillips into your build
Kyler Phillips enters the pool on any spin landing on bantamweight between 2023 and present. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Kyler Phillips is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Kyler Phillips's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.