Ryan Kuse has finally reached the UFC after a long run through regional cards, canceled fights and a few frustrating detours along the way.
Known as Third Street Savage, Kuse brings a 9-2 record into the UFC after spending six years building his name in Titan FC main events and other stops across the MMA scene. The 32-year-old from Iowa, who stands five foot nine, has also carried a street-fighting identity that he says he eventually shaped into a more complete martial arts approach.
A long road before the big call
Kuse’s path to the UFC was not a straight line. He first showed up on the amateur scene in February 2013, winning by first-round rear-naked choke at Iowa Challenge. A loss by armbar followed in April 2013, and he did not return until early 2018, when he fought in Florida across Combat Night and Xtreme Fighting Nation.
That background helped shape the fighter fans would later see on the regional circuit. In November 2019, Elaman Shalkimbekov stopped Kuse by knockout in the third round at the IMMAF World Championships. Kuse then turned pro in August 2020 at age 26 and opened his career with a first-round stoppage of Earnest Walls.
Finishes, setbacks and another push
Kuse quickly built momentum as a pro. By the time he reached his first professional loss, he had put together a six-fight run that included five finishes and no defeats. His first loss came in November 2022, when Leonardo Morales outpointed him at Combate Global.
He kept moving forward from there. At Gamebred 4, Kuse submitted Jarod Grant with a kimura in under two and a half minutes. In March 2022, he headlined Titan FC 74 and stopped Jamal Johnson in the first round. But the road still had more resistance in store, including a split decision loss to Cameron Smotherman in Houston in April 2024.
Kuse’s most recent result before the UFC came in October 2025, when he beat Kevin Natividad over three rounds at LFA 220. That win helped set up the moment he had been chasing for years: a UFC opportunity.
What it means now
The move to the UFC gives Kuse a chance to see whether his aggressive style can translate against the sport’s deepest roster. He has described himself as a full martial artist with the same ready-to-scrap mentality that defined his earlier fighting years, and that edge has been part of his appeal throughout the climb.
For a fighter who spent years working through Titan FC main events, postponed bouts and weight-cut issues, simply getting to this point is a notable accomplishment. Now the question is whether Third Street Savage can turn a hard-earned UFC debut into a longer stay.
