Kevin Syler Record: 10-1-0

Contender Series and the road back

In July 2019, Syler stepped onto the Contender Series stage and outpointed the undefeated Lance Lawrence over three rounds for a unanimous-decision win, becoming the first Bolivian to compete on the platform. The victory was bittersweet: he had missed weight badly at the weigh-in, and Dana White declined to award a contract despite praising his talent and toughness. Syler returned home and kept winning, submitting Franco Aranda by triangle choke at the end of 2019 to push his record to 10-0. His first professional loss came on his second Contender Series appearance, a unanimous-decision defeat to Kenneth Cross in August 2020, leaving him at 10-1.

Fighting style

Syler is a submission specialist first and foremost — seven of his ten wins have come by tap, spanning rear-naked chokes, arm-triangles, a guillotine, a heel hook and a triangle, for an 80% finish rate. That variety speaks to a sophisticated grappling game built at American Top Team rather than a one-trick approach, and his switch-stance striking and boxing background give him the tools to set up his entries. His two recorded blemishes — the missed weight against Lawrence and a decision loss to Cross — point to weight management and high-level wrestling as the hurdles between him and the sport's top tier.

Career highlights

• First Bolivian on the Contender Series — broke ground for his country by defeating the undefeated Lance Lawrence on Dana White's Contender Series in 2019.
• Ten-fight unbeaten start — opened his career 10-0 with finishes over multiple seasoned opponents, including the 8-1 Damian Tolaba.
• Submission artist — closed out seven wins by submission across five different techniques, an 80% finish rate forged at American Top Team.