Kyler Phillips
Matrix
USA
Fades following fast start
Phillips lost to Vinicius Oliveira via unanimous decision (28-29, 28-29, 28-29) at UFC 318 on Saturday in New Orleans.
ANALYSIS
Phillips is an extremely quick starter, but he has cardio issues and was was facing an opponent here in Oliveira that literally never stops moving forward. It was a bad combination and played out exactly that way inside the Octagon. All the good work Phillips did in Round 1 was negated as soon as he was dropped early in Round 2. He managed to steady the ship to some extent in the final frame, but it certainly wasn't enough to win a decision. Kyler won three straight from February 2022 to March 2024, but he's now lost two straight, with the first one coming as a -650 favorite against Rob Font last October. Phillips is at risk of torpedoing down the rankings in a hurry in the loaded bantamweight division.
Phillips is an extremely quick starter, but he has cardio issues and was was facing an opponent here in Oliveira that literally never stops moving forward. It was a bad combination and played out exactly that way inside the Octagon. All the good work Phillips did in Round 1 was negated as soon as he was dropped early in Round 2. He managed to steady the ship to some extent in the final frame, but it certainly wasn't enough to win a decision. Kyler won three straight from February 2022 to March 2024, but he's now lost two straight, with the first one coming as a -650 favorite against Rob Font last October. Phillips is at risk of torpedoing down the rankings in a hurry in the loaded bantamweight division.
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Taking on Oliveira
Phillips will face Vinicius Oliveira in a bantamweight bout at UFC 318 on July 1, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Phillips is coming off a tough loss to Rob Font in which he was a heavy favorite. Now sporting a 6-2 record in the UFC, he'll face Oliveira, who is off to a perfect 3-0 start in the UFC and hasn't lost a professional bout since July of 2022.
Phillips is coming off a tough loss to Rob Font in which he was a heavy favorite. Now sporting a 6-2 record in the UFC, he'll face Oliveira, who is off to a perfect 3-0 start in the UFC and hasn't lost a professional bout since July of 2022.
Falls as biggest favorite on card
Phillips lost to Rob Font via unanimous decision (28-29, 28-29, 28-29) at UFC Fight night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
That will do it in terms of Phillips making a rise up the ranks of a loaded bantamweight division. You don't fall as a -650 favorite, largest on the entire card, and live to tell about it. Kyler was fresh and effective for a round before gassing out. He did land four takedowns, but was primarily unable to pin Font to the mat, which is highly concerning because that's essentially been Rob's greatest flaw in the past. This performance makes you wonder whether Phillips simply made a name for himself beating up on lesser competition. The defeat snaps a three-fight winning streak for the 29-year-old Arizona native.
That will do it in terms of Phillips making a rise up the ranks of a loaded bantamweight division. You don't fall as a -650 favorite, largest on the entire card, and live to tell about it. Kyler was fresh and effective for a round before gassing out. He did land four takedowns, but was primarily unable to pin Font to the mat, which is highly concerning because that's essentially been Rob's greatest flaw in the past. This performance makes you wonder whether Phillips simply made a name for himself beating up on lesser competition. The defeat snaps a three-fight winning streak for the 29-year-old Arizona native.
Taking on Font
Phillips will take on Rob Font in a bantamweight showdown at a UFC event on Oct. 19 in Las Vegas, Nolan King of USA Today reports.
ANALYSIS
Phillips will take on the reeling font, who has dropped four of his last five contests. Phillips, meanwhile, has won three straight and most recently defeated Pedro Munhoz via unanimous decision back in March. He'll look to stay hot, while his much more experienced opponent will look to simply climb back into the win column.
Phillips will take on the reeling font, who has dropped four of his last five contests. Phillips, meanwhile, has won three straight and most recently defeated Pedro Munhoz via unanimous decision back in March. He'll look to stay hot, while his much more experienced opponent will look to simply climb back into the win column.
Improves to 6-1 in past seven
Phillips defeated Pedro Munhoz via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) at UFC 299 on Saturday in Miami.
ANALYSIS
Munhoz hasn't been winning much of late, but he's a battle-tested veteran who is more than capable of springing an upset if you don't show up ready to go. There were no such issues for Phillips as a -230 favorite. Kyler mixed up his combinations beautifully, closing with a 115-52 edge in terms of total strikes landed. He allowed a single takedown in Round 1 but immediately worked his way right back to his feet. Phillips wasn't able to put Munhoz away, but no one is able to put Munhoz away. Literally. The guy has never been stopped in more than 30 pro fights. Kyler is still just 28 years of age and trains with an elite team at the MMA Lab in Arizona. The winner of three straight and six of seven UFC bouts, he's an obvious fighter to keep an eye on moving forward at 135 pounds.
Munhoz hasn't been winning much of late, but he's a battle-tested veteran who is more than capable of springing an upset if you don't show up ready to go. There were no such issues for Phillips as a -230 favorite. Kyler mixed up his combinations beautifully, closing with a 115-52 edge in terms of total strikes landed. He allowed a single takedown in Round 1 but immediately worked his way right back to his feet. Phillips wasn't able to put Munhoz away, but no one is able to put Munhoz away. Literally. The guy has never been stopped in more than 30 pro fights. Kyler is still just 28 years of age and trains with an elite team at the MMA Lab in Arizona. The winner of three straight and six of seven UFC bouts, he's an obvious fighter to keep an eye on moving forward at 135 pounds.
Books matchup with Munhoz
Phillips is scheduled to face Pedro Munhoz in a bantamweight bout at UFC 299 in Miami on March 9, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Munhoz is ranked No. 10 in the UFC's bantamweight rankings and trying to redeem himself after suffering a short-notice decision loss at the hands of Marlon Vera. As for Phillips, he will try to continue his positive momentum, established with a 5-1 record across his first six UFC fights.
Munhoz is ranked No. 10 in the UFC's bantamweight rankings and trying to redeem himself after suffering a short-notice decision loss at the hands of Marlon Vera. As for Phillips, he will try to continue his positive momentum, established with a 5-1 record across his first six UFC fights.