Steven Kozola (born December 17, 1989) is an American
mixed martial artist who most recently competed in
Bellator
Bellator, warrior in Latin, may refer to:
* Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States
* Bishop Bellator of Archaeological site of Sbeitla, Sufetula (5th century)
Taxonomy
* Bellator (fish), ''Bellator'' (fish), a fis ...
's
Lightweight division. A professional competitor since 2013, he has also competed for the
World Series of Fighting
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is an American mixed martial arts league founded by Venture capital, venture capitalist Donn Davis in 2017 and launched in 2018, following the acquisition and restructuring of the former World Series of Fight ...
.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Kozola started his professional career in July 2013. He went undefeated in his first four bouts, stopping all of his opponents, before signing with
Bellator MMA
Bellator MMA (formerly Bellator Fighting Championships) is an American mixed martial arts promotion (entertainment), promotion founded in 2008 and based in Santa Monica, California, owned and operated as a subsidiary of television and media cong ...
. He competed for a variety of promotions during this time, including Gladiator Challenge and Xplode Fight Series and World Series of fighting.
Bellator MMA
In his promotional debut for Bellator, Kozola was paired with Jonathan Rivera at
Bellator 132
2015 in Bellator MMA was the seventh year in the history of Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. Bellator held 16 events in 2015.
Background
In June 2014, Founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney parted with the company. ...
on January 16, 2015. Kozola won the fight via knockout in the second round.
In his second fight for the promotion, Kozola faced Ian Butler at
Bellator 137
2015 in Bellator MMA was the seventh year in the history of Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. Bellator held 16 events in 2015.
Background
In June 2014, Founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney parted with the company. ...
on May 15, 2015. Kozola once again won via knockout, this time in the first round, improving his undefeated record to 6–0.
After a successful debut in the
World Series of Fighting
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is an American mixed martial arts league founded by Venture capital, venture capitalist Donn Davis in 2017 and launched in 2018, following the acquisition and restructuring of the former World Series of Fight ...
, Kozola returned to Bellator against Jake Roberts at
Bellator 175 on March 31, 2017. He won the fight via TKO, just 28 seconds into the first round.
Kozola faced Carrington Banks at
Bellator 184
2017 in Bellator MMA was the tenth year in the history of Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. Bellator held 26 events in 2017.
Background
This year, Bellator announced their first MMA event to be held in New ...
on October 6, 2017. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Kozola faced Jake Smith at
Bellator 193 on January 26, 2018. He lost the fight via knockout early in the first round due to two right hands from Smith, followed by ground-and-pound that secured the stoppage. Kozola was subsequently released from the promotion.
Despite his release from Bellator, Kozola returned to the promotion and faced Ryan Walker at
Bellator 202 on July 13, 2018. He won the fight via TKO in the first round.
Mixed martial arts record
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 9–4
, Salvador Becerra
, Decision (unanimous)
,
LFA 74
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
,
Riverside, California, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 9–3
, Arthur Estrázulas
, Submission (rear-naked choke)
,
LFA 69
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 2:32
,
Cabazon, California, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 9–2
, Ryan Walker
, TKO (punches)
,
Bellator 202
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 1:45
,
Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 8–2
, Jake Smith
, KO (punches)
,
Bellator 193
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 0:57
,
Temecula, California, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 8–1
, Carrington Banks
, Decision (unanimous)
,
Bellator 184
2017 in Bellator MMA was the tenth year in the history of Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. Bellator held 26 events in 2017.
Background
This year, Bellator announced their first MMA event to be held in New ...
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
,
Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 8–0
, Jake Roberts
, TKO (punches)
,
Bellator 175
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 0:28
,
Rosemont, Illinois, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 7–0
, Matt Church
, TKO (punches)
,
WSOF 30
World Series of Fighting 30: Branch vs. Starks was a mixed martial arts event held on at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Background
The event was headlined by a WSOF Middleweight Championship fight between champion David Br ...
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 1:57
,
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
,
160 lb Catchweight bout.
, -
, Win
, align=center, 6–0
, Ian Butler
, KO (punches)
,
Bellator 137
2015 in Bellator MMA was the seventh year in the history of Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. Bellator held 16 events in 2015.
Background
In June 2014, Founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney parted with the company. ...
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 2:22
,
Temecula, California, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 5–0
, Jonathan Rivera
, KO (punches)
,
Bellator 132
2015 in Bellator MMA was the seventh year in the history of Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States. Bellator held 16 events in 2015.
Background
In June 2014, Founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney parted with the company. ...
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 1:25
,
Temecula, California, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 4–0
, Danny Morales Jr.
, KO (strikes)
, American Predator Fighting Championships 17
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 1:56
,
Hoffman Estates, Illinois, United States
,
Return to Lightweight.
, -
, Win
, align=center, 3–0
, Eddy Gonzalez
, TKO (punches)
, Gladiator Challenge: Backlash
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 0:50
,
El Cajon, California
El Cajon ( , ; Spanish: El Cajón, meaning "the box") is a city in San Diego County, California, United States, east of downtown San Diego. The city takes its name from Rancho El Cajón, which was in turn named for the box-like shape of the va ...
, United States
,
Welterweight bout.
, -
, Win
, align=center, 2–0
, Tommy Gavin
, TKO (punches)
, BAMMA USA: Badbeat 12
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 0:44
,
Commerce, California, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 1–0
, Ramon Hernandez
, Submission (guillotine choke)
, Xplode Fight Series: Aftermath
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 1:29
,
Valley Center, California, United States
,
See also
*
List of current Bellator fighters
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kozola, Steve
Living people
1989 births
American male mixed martial artists
Lightweight mixed martial artists
Mixed martial artists utilizing taekwondo
Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu
American male taekwondo practitioners
American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Sportspeople from Naperville, Illinois
Mixed martial artists from Illinois