Trey Ogden has built his career around more than fight results. The American Lightweight is a UFC fighter, Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and head coach who had to rebuild part of his professional life while still competing at the highest level.
Known as “Shamurai”, Ogden’s story runs through bullying as a child, years in the Kansas City combat sports scene, a late push to the UFC and the sudden loss of a long-time coaching structure after the James Krause betting scandal. His path is shaped as much by coaching, fatherhood and gym ownership as by his record inside the cage.
What to know in 60 seconds
Trey Ogden is an American UFC Lightweight from Missouri, fighting out of Overland Park, Kansas.
He is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and the head coach at Marathon MMA.
Ogden signed with the UFC after a Fury FC title bout in front of Dana White in November 2021.
He has UFC wins over Daniel Zellhuber, Kurt Holobaugh and Loik Radzhabov.
He is scheduled to fight Thomas Gantt on 16 May 2026 at Meta APEX in Las Vegas.
Trey Ogden’s background
Trey Ogden was born Richard Lee Ogden on 14 November 1989. The Kansas City Star has described him as originally from Liberty, Missouri.
In the same Kansas City Star interview, he said he was bullied and picked on as a child, which pushed him towards mixed martial arts. He described the sport as something that began as a way to build confidence and later became “a whole way of life” for him.
Before he reached the UFC, Ogden trained out of the Kansas City area and was closely associated with Glory MMA & Fitness, the gym led by James Krause. A 2015 Kansas City MMA interview described Glory MMA & Fitness in Lee’s Summit, Missouri as Ogden’s primary home base at the time, while also noting that he regularly trained at Kansas City Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
That same interview helps explain how Ogden saw fighting even early in his professional career. “I’ve been a martial artist way before competition. I’ll be a martial artist way after competition,” he said. It is a useful line because it captures the continuity between Ogden the fighter and Ogden the coach.
Turning pro and the road to the UFC
Ogden compiled an 8-1 amateur MMA record before turning professional, according to the same 2015 Kansas City MMA interview. His early pro career began with two quick submission wins and that his move into Titan FC brought a bigger platform through the promotion’s UFC Fight Pass exposure.
His record across regional MMA included appearances for promotions such as Bellator, LFA, Titan FC and Fury FC. Marathon MMA’s instructor page highlights victories in Bellator, the Fury FC Lightweight World Championship and the UFC, underlining the long route he took before becoming a UFC regular.
The most important pre-UFC moment came on 14 November 2021, when Ogden defeated JJ Okanovich by arm-triangle choke at Fury FC 53: Lookin’ For a Fight. The bout was a Fury FC Lightweight title fight, and the Kansas City Star reported that Ogden fought in front of UFC president Dana White that night before being awarded a UFC contract.
Ogden later described that opportunity as a “do-or-die moment” in his career. Rather than focusing on the consequences of not being signed, he said he concentrated on the fight itself and on staying present in the moment.
Key UFC milestones
Ogden made his UFC debut against Jordan Leavitt on 16 April 2022, losing by split decision. His first UFC win followed later that year when he defeated Daniel Zellhuber by unanimous decision on 17 September 2022.
His early UFC run also included a Catchweight bout with Ignacio Bahamondes at UFC 287 on 8 April 2023, which ended in a unanimous decision loss. That result was followed by one of the more unusual moments of his UFC career against Nikolas Motta on 18 November 2023, when their fight was ruled a no contest after a premature stoppage.
Ogden responded by adding two UFC wins in 2024. He defeated Kurt Holobaugh by unanimous decision on 23 March 2024, then beat Loik Radzhabov by unanimous decision on 20 July 2024. In January 2025, he lost a unanimous decision to Thiago Moisés.
Across those UFC milestones, Ogden’s role has not been limited to being an active fighter. He has also continued to coach, corner and help develop other athletes while maintaining his own place in the Lightweight division.
Setbacks, cancellations and controversy
A major turning point in Ogden’s career came outside the cage. MMA Fighting reported that his long-time coach and mentor James Krause was banned from the sport due to alleged involvement in a betting scandal, which forced Ogden to cut professional ties and rebrand his gym. Ogden said the same week included the birth of his first daughter, making it a major personal and professional disruption.
The rebrand led to Marathon MMA. Ogden told MMA Fighting that he had already developed his own curriculum and used that as the basis for the new gym name. He also said he had to continue coaching a larger fight team while still preparing for his own UFC career.
The Nikolas Motta no contest also stands out as a competitive setback. The result was a no contest due to premature stoppage, while the Kansas City Star reported that Ogden was leading on the scorecards before the referee’s error.
Ogden has also dealt with a UFC bout cancellation. A scheduled fight with Manuel Torres in March 2023 was cancelled due to Torres medical issues.
Life outside the cage
Outside competition, Ogden is closely tied to Marathon MMA in Overland Park, Kansas. The gym lists him as Head Coach, a kids jiu-jitsu instructor, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and an active UFC Lightweight.
His coaching workload is a defining part of his profile. MMA Fighting reported that he travelled to corner Mike Breeden, Garrett Armfield and Miles Johns during the same period in which he was preparing for his own fights. Ogden said he was teaching three or four classes a day, giving private lessons and still training heavily himself.
Fatherhood is also part of his public story. Ogden told MMA Fighting that his first daughter was born during the same week he was forced to rebrand his gym, describing the year as “wild” while he adjusted to becoming a parent and losing his coach.
His nickname is widely listed as “Shamurai”.
Current status (as of May 2026)
Trey Ogden is scheduled to fight Thomas Gantt on 16 May 2026 at Meta APEX in Las Vegas. Ogden enters the booking as an experienced UFC Lightweight with a professional record listed at 18-7 with one no contest. His recent MMA activity includes a January 2025 decision loss to Thiago Moisés, while he also had a November 2025 grappling appearance at EBI 26.
Trey Ogden MMA Record and Fighter Stats
Name
Trey Ogden
Nationality
American
Weight Class
Lightweight
Date of Birth
14 November 1989 (Age 36)
Height
5’11”
UFC Record
3-3, 1 NC
Recent Fight Record
DateEventOpponentResultMethod
11-Jan-25UFC Fight NightThiago MoisésLUnanimous Decision
20-Jul-24UFC Fight NightLoik RadzhabovWUnanimous Decision
23-Mar-24UFC Fight NightKurt HolobaughWUnanimous Decision
18-Nov-23UFC Fight NightNikolas MottaNC3rd Round No Contest
8-Apr-23UFC 287Ignacio BahamondesLUnanimous Decision
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