Elite grappler Kody Steele will now be making his UFC debut against Rong Zhu at UFC 312 on February 8th, 2025. Zhu is a veteran of over 30 professional MMA fights and he represents the most experienced opponent that Steele has ever had to face. His current record is 25-6 and he spent several years fighting on the regional MMA circuit in China before eventually making his own UFC debut in 2021. That wasn’t the most successful stint as Zhu went 1-2 and was released by the promotion, but he rallied back with 4 straight wins outside the UFC that included winning Season 2 of Road to UFC.
Zhu earned the right to return by winning that tournament and although he wasn’t victorious in his first attempt at a comeback in 2024, he’s still a very dangerous fighter. Zhu has his fair share of submission wins but his best work is done by striking, as he has 15 finishes by way of knockout or TKO. Thats why he represents an interesting stylistic matchup for Steele, who was a top Jiu-Jitsu competitor long before he made the transition to MMA. Although Steele has fantastic grappling, he hasn’t actually had to use it too much so far in his MMA career and has been developing some impressive striking instead.
Steele put together a perfect 6-0 professional record on the regional MMA circuit before drawing the attention of the UFC, including three knockout wins. He was given the chance to earn a spot on the roster but his first fight at Dana White’s Contender Series was scuppered when his opponent withdrew on just one hour’s notice. Steele didn’t let that deter him though and when he got the chance again, he made sure to grab it with both hands. He finished his opponent with a brutal body shot and moved to 7-0 with 5 finishes, getting his long-awaited UFC contract in the process.
MMAMania reporter Alex Behunin announced the news that Kody Steele would make his UFC debut against Rong Zhu at UFC 312 in a recent post to his official Instagram account:
