Steven Koslow earned his first UFC victory with a third-round submission at UFC Edmonton. The win came after Koslow had been out of competition since 2022.
Steven Koslow picked up his first UFC victory at UFC Edmonton, finishing his opponent by submission in the third round. The win capped a return to action for the 29-year-old, who had not competed since 2022.
Koslow, who goes by the nickname "Obi Won Shinobi The Pillow," now sits at 6-1 as a professional. The American trains out of 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Jacksonville and fights from a switch stance. At five-foot-seven with a 69-inch reach, he gives up natural size in most matchups, but his game is built around getting the fight to the mat.
His numbers reflect that approach. Koslow averages 5.28 takedown attempts per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts over the same span, both marks that point to a grappling-first style. His striking output is modest by comparison, with 0.77 significant strikes landed per minute at 37 percent accuracy. Those figures suggest a fighter who uses his hands mainly to set up entries rather than to win exchanges on the feet.
The finish fits that profile. Rather than relying on a quick opening, Koslow worked through the fight and secured the submission late, in the third round, a sign of patience after a layoff of roughly four years.
Why it matters
- Koslow turns a long absence into a winning UFC debut-era result, giving him early momentum on the roster.
- His takedown-heavy, submission-seeking style presents a clear grappling threat to future opponents in his weight class.
- At 29, he is still at an age where a fighter with a 6-1 record can build steadily, particularly after a finish.
The result at UFC Edmonton gives Koslow a foothold in the promotion after a stretch away from competition, and it adds another submission to a résumé that leans heavily on his jiu-jitsu background.
