Kyler Phillips Bio
Kyler John Phillips (born June 12, 1995) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He is widely known by his ring name, “The Matrix,” and currently competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of September 30, 2025, he holds the #14 spot in the official UFC bantamweight rankings. Phillips trains out of Glendale, Arizona, where he represents the respected MMA Lab team.
Early Life and Background
Kyler John Phillips was born on June 12, 1995, in Torrance, California, in the United States. He grew up in Southern California, where he was introduced to martial arts at a very young age. At the age of three, Phillips’ father took him to the Gracie Academy in Torrance, California, which helped him develop a lifelong love for combat sports and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
By the age of 12, Phillips was competing in pankration fights, and at 16, he stepped into his first mixed martial arts bout. He also wrestled at Temecula Valley High School, sharpening the grappling and takedown skills that would later become central to his fighting style. He went on to earn a Carlson Gracie BJJ Brown belt and a Nikidokai black/red belt under grandmaster Hanshi Nico.
Among his early grappling accomplishments, Phillips was an IBJJF jiu-jitsu world champion at the blue belt level in 2012, a California State judo champion in 2010, and a California Southern Section CIF wrestling champion at 138 pounds in 2013. These formative experiences in jiu-jitsu, judo, and wrestling laid the foundation for his professional MMA career.
Path to MMA
Phillips turned professional in 2016 and quickly built an unbeaten 4-0 record on the regional circuit. His performances on the smaller shows earned him attention, including an impressive win at LFA 13 against Jonathan Quiroz. This run of form put him on the radar of the UFC’s developmental pathways.
In 2017, Phillips was invited to the first season of Dana White’s Contender Series 4, where he needed just 46 seconds to finish James Gray Jr. Although he was not offered a UFC contract that night, the performance was strong enough to land him a spot on The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated. On the reality show, he dropped a majority decision to eventual season winner Brad Katona.
Phillips suffered his first official pro defeat in 2018 via split decision against Victor Henry, but he bounced back in 2019 with a head kick knockout of Emeka Ifekandu. That finish earned him the call-up to the UFC, where he has since built his reputation as a durable and well-rounded bantamweight contender.
Kyler Phillips Career
Early Career (2016-2019)
Phillips began his professional mixed martial arts journey in 2016, competing at bantamweight on the regional scene. He quickly strung together four straight wins, including a notable performance at LFA 13, which helped establish his reputation as a prospect to watch in the lower weight classes.
His appearance on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2017, where he dispatched James Gray Jr. in under a minute, marked his arrival on the national stage. Following his time on The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated and a setback against Victor Henry, he responded with a striking finish over Emeka Ifekandu, which secured his invitation to the UFC roster.
UFC Breakthrough (2020-2021)
Phillips made his UFC debut on February 29, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 169 against Gabriel Silva. He put on a dominant performance and won by unanimous decision, also earning the Fight of the Night bonus. He followed that up with a second-round ground-and-pound stoppage of Cameron Else at UFC on ESPN 16, which brought him the Performance of the Night award.
In 2021, Phillips picked up a unanimous decision win over Song Yadong at UFC 259, pushing his early UFC record to 3-0. Later that year, he faced Raulian Paiva on short notice at UFC on ESPN 27, where he lost by majority decision in a bout that still earned him the Fight of the Night award.
He closed out 2021 with momentum, and in 2022 he submitted Marcelo Rojo via triangle armbar in the third round at UFC 271. The win added another highlight-reel finish to his resume and reinforced his status as a well-rounded bantamweight.
UFC Era (2022-2025)
After his win over Rojo, Phillips faced a series of cancellations, including a planned bout with Jack Shore and a withdrawn booking against Raphael Assunção in 2023. He was also suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for six months beginning January 22, 2023, after testing positive for ostarine, becoming eligible to compete again in late July 2023.
Once cleared, Phillips returned at UFC on ESPN 50 in August 2023, where he beat Raoni Barcelos by unanimous decision. He kept the momentum going at UFC 299 in March 2024, winning a unanimous decision over Pedro Munhoz. However, he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Rob Font at UFC Fight Night 245 in October 2024, and another unanimous decision loss to Vinicius Oliveira at UFC 318 on July 19, 2025.
Phillips went on to face Charles Jourdain at UFC Fight Night 273 on April 18, 2026, where he lost by unanimous decision in a fight that still earned him a $100,000 Fight of the Night award. He continues to represent the MMA Lab team out of Glendale, Arizona.
Style and Strengths
Phillips is a well-rounded bantamweight whose style is built on a strong grappling base, highlighted by his Carlson Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt and his high school wrestling pedigree. He blends sharp boxing with his judo and wrestling experience, making him dangerous in the clinch, on the mat, and on the feet. Training at the renowned MMA Lab under experienced coaches, he has developed the conditioning and tactical patience needed to thrive in three-round UFC bouts.
Notable Events and Milestones
Some of the signature moments of Phillips’ career include his 46-second finish of James Gray Jr. on Dana White’s Contender Series, his UFC debut bonus over Gabriel Silva, and his triangle armbar submission of Marcelo Rojo at UFC 271. He has earned multiple Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses, and as of late 2025, he sits ranked #14 in the UFC bantamweight division.
Kyler Phillips Career Wins
Across his professional career, Kyler John Phillips has compiled a verified record of 12 wins and 4 losses, giving him a strong winning percentage in the bantamweight division. His victories have come by a balanced mix of knockouts, submissions, and decisions, reflecting his all-around skill set. Several of these wins have been earned inside the Octagon against seasoned UFC competition.
UFC Highlights
Inside the UFC, Phillips has recorded wins over Gabriel Silva, Cameron Else, Song Yadong, Marcelo Rojo, Raoni Barcelos, and Pedro Munhoz. His first Octagon win came by unanimous decision over Silva in February 2020, and he has since added finishes like the second-round stoppage of Else and a third-round triangle armbar of Rojo. He has also earned multiple post-fight bonuses for his performances, including Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night awards.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the UFC, Phillips built a 4-0 record on the regional circuit, including a notable victory at LFA 13 over Jonathan Quiroz. He also scored a quick knockout of James Gray Jr. on Dana White’s Contender Series, which served as the launching pad for his UFC career.
Kyler Phillips Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Phillips’ introduction to martial arts came through his father, who took him to the Gracie Academy in Torrance, California, when he was just three years old. That early family support played a key role in shaping his future in combat sports and helped him develop a lifelong dedication to training.
Personal Life
Kyler John Phillips currently resides in Glendale, Arizona, where he trains with the MMA Lab team. He continues to build his career out of the bantamweight division, and his professional ring name, “The Matrix,” has become closely tied to his identity inside the cage.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into 2025, Phillips was looking to build on his 2024 win over Pedro Munhoz and re-establish himself in the UFC bantamweight title picture. His October 2024 loss to Rob Font at UFC Fight Night 245 was a setback, but it was a closely contested decision that did little to diminish his standing in the rankings.
At UFC 318 on July 19, 2025, Phillips faced Vinicius Oliveira and dropped a unanimous decision, which kept him outside the top tier of the division. However, his ranking at #14 as of September 30, 2025, shows that he remains within striking distance of the contenders and a potential step back into bigger bouts.
With the depth of the bantamweight division and his well-rounded skill set, Phillips will look to bounce back in late 2025 and early 2026 by stringing together wins, climbing the rankings, and positioning himself for a marquee matchup that could put him back in the title conversation.
