Highlights! Kody Steele Sparks UFC Perth With Slick Heel Hook

TL;DR

Kody Steele submitted Dom Mar Fan with a heel hook in the first round at UFC Perth on May 2, 2026. The fight showcased Steele's grappling skills, leading to a quick victory over the local fighter.

Key points

Kody Steele won by submission in the first round
The fight took place at UFC Perth on May 2, 2026
Steele used an inverted heel hook to secure the victory
Dom Mar Fan was making his second appearance in the Octagon
Steele was favored to win despite previous loss

Mentioned in this story

PerthUFC

Kody SteeleDom Mar FanUFC Fight Night

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - MAY 02: Kody Steele secures a submission against Dom Mar Fan of Australia in a lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at RAC Arena on May 02, 2026 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa LLC)

Kody Steele got things off to a hot start earlier this morning (Sat., May 2, 2026) at UFC Perth LIVE on Paramount+ from inside RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, sparking the “Prelims” undercard with a slick first-round submission (inverted heel hook) against hometown fighter Dom Mar Fan.

Steele came into Saturday’s early-morning affair as an oddsmaker’s favorite, but all bets were off when matched up against “Street Buddha.” That’s because Mar Fan has proven to be dangerous on the feet and the ground throughout his MMA career. He was also coming off a win in his Octagon debut this past January, while Steele dropped his own debut to Rong Zhu back in Feb. 2025.

The first half of the first round was a solid back-and-forth, but things took a turn for the worse for Mar Fan with just over 90 seconds to go as Steele grabbed a hold of a nasty heel hook. Mar Fan tried to play it off and shake his leg free, but the hold was tight. Steele started to crank and eventually forced the tap. It was pretty impressive, especially considering Steele only had one submission on his record entering this weekend.

Check out the video highlights below:

For complete UFC Perth results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.

Q&A

What submission technique did Kody Steele use to win against Dom Mar Fan?

Kody Steele used an inverted heel hook to secure his victory over Dom Mar Fan.

When did Kody Steele fight Dom Mar Fan at UFC Perth?

Kody Steele fought Dom Mar Fan on May 2, 2026, during the UFC Fight Night event in Perth, Australia.

What was Kody Steele's record before the fight with Dom Mar Fan?

Before the fight with Dom Mar Fan, Kody Steele had one submission victory on his record and had previously lost his UFC debut.