5 Things You Might Not Know About Jordan Wright

Perhaps at the end of the plank, Jordan Wright can ill afford another misstep in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

The Texas native will look to put a stop to a three-fight losing streak when he takes on “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 30 finalist Zac Pauga in the UFC Fight Night 219 co-main event on Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Wright enters the Octagon the heels of consecutive defeats—all of them finishes—to Bruno Silva, Marc-Andre Barriault and Dusko Todorovic. His record in the UFC currently sits at 2-4, with victories over Isaac Villanueva and Jamie Pickett allowing him to maintain his tenuous spot on the roster.

As Wright pores over the remaining details associated with his high-stakes showdown against Elevation Fight Team’s Pagua at 205 pounds, here are five things you might not know about him:

1. Quick-strike offense has been his calling card.

Eleven of Wright’s 12 career victories have resulted in first-round finishes. The lone exception? A pre-pandemic Jan. 17, 2020 encounter with Gabriel Checco under the Legacy Fighting Alliance banner. Wright buried Checco with a knee strike and follow-up punches 48 seconds into the second round of their LFA 80 middleweight showcase.

2. He carries a blank passport.

Wright has never fought outside of the continental United States. In fact, his 17 professional appearances have been confined to five states: California, Alaska, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas.

3. He seeks out proven mentors.

“The Beverly Hills Ninja” trains under UFC veteran Antoni Hardonk and former International Fight League champion Vladimir Matyushenko at Dynamix MMA in Los Angeles. Wright spent time previously at Jackson-Wink MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

4. Comedic royalty provided his nickname.

Greg Jackson gave Wright his unique moniker. The legendary coach used it to pay homage to a 1997 movie of the same name, which starred the late Chris Farley alongside fellow “Saturday Night Live” alum Chris Rock and Nicolette Sheridan. Though widely panned by critics, “Beverly Hills Ninja” grossed nearly $38 million at the box office worldwide.

5. As a former gymnast, he put safety nets in place.

Wright earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of New Mexico. In addition to his career as a professional prizefighter, he serves as a trainer at Dynamix MMA. His duties include teaching mixed martial arts classes to kids.