UFC Seattle: Joe Pyfer faces another prove-it moment against legend Israel Adesanya
· Yahoo Sports
SEATTLE — Joe Pyfer has been on a fast track since the start of his UFC career. But when he was matched with former perennial middleweight contender Jack Hermansson in early 2024, it felt like a possibility of too much, too soon.
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It turns out, it was.
Now on a strong three-fight win streak, Pyfer, 29 has found a new stride since that early stumble, setting himself up for a potential coming-out party. This weekend he flies from his Philadelphia home to the Pacific Northwest in hopes of taking out his first former champion. But not just any former champion: the all-time great Israel Adesanya, whom he meets in the main event of UFC Seattle.
The middleweights have been on polar opposite trajectories in their past three appearances. While Pyfer has strung together momentum, Adesanya has faltered, losing four of his past five, with two coming via knockout. Thanks to those results and Pyfer's power, the odds are closer than they may have been in years past, with questions suddenly arising around the legendary striker's durability at age 36.
Joe Pyfer has an opportunity to ascend the middleweight ranks at UFC Seattle. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)Jeff Bottari via Getty Images"I think he's always had the same chin," Pyfer told Uncrowned of Adesanya. "If that was the case, you could go all the way back to when he got left hook flatlined in kickboxing and be like, 'He can't take a punch.' He's taken shots. If you look at even Alex Pereira's shots, who you know is one of the hardest hitters in the UFC, he was taking a lot of those shots, and he still didn't get put out on one shot. He's never been put out flat besides just that one time. He's been rocked and TKO'd, so I don't look too much into it. I do think that I have the power that could flatline him. But I gotta get to him.
"I expect a very good version of him. Maybe his chin is gone. Only he knows that."
Pyfer (15-3) has openly admitted his inexperience cost him in his five-round headlining loss to Hermansson. It was a concerning effort on the surface level, and some fighters fail to get back on track when tested at a higher level before they're ready.
Yet against Adesanya, Pyfer is back in the main event.
The pressure is there, he says, but it's not overwhelming. It's purely about winning and reaping the financial benefits.
"At this level, get me both my checks, that's all I care," Pyfer said. "It's like, I don't care if he's half dead and didn't show up, and people are like, 'You beat an old washed,' I don't care. Give me both my checks. Let me win. Let me go do my thing.
"So if this could be the easiest fight of my life, I know it'll be a blessing. Because I know he's not an easy fight, obviously. Toughest test of my career, best talent I've ever fought. And I'll give him all that respect when I go in there and try to beat him."
Wins over Adesanya don't come easily in MMA. Across 25 professional fights, "The Last Stylebender" has only tasted defeat at 185 pounds within the slump he carries into Saturday night. He's been the gold standard for more than a decade, but a win for Pyfer could further shake up the ranks.
Should Pyfer emerge victorious, title shot talks will rapidly heat up. However, as he's seen with fellow contender Nassourdine Imavov — who last defeated Adesanya — a title shot isn't always guaranteed. Sean Strickland is instead next to challenge champion Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 on May 9.
Status be damned, Pyfer isn't in agreement with Strickland jumping the line after a single win, as opposed to Imavov's five-fight win streak.
"It doesn't matter [which matchup is] going to be more exciting," Pyfer said. "Imavov earned that. And he went from a guy who wasn't winning, he lost to a couple of guys in the beginning, and you've seen him develop so much. He's earned his title shot. Give him the title shot. So has Sean Strickland, he's earned it. But he shouldn't have jumped [Imavov].
"He knocked out 'Izzy.' I think anybody who can knock out 'Izzy' deserves a title shot."
Regardless of how the landscape continues to form atop the middleweight division, Pyfer is ready to add his name to the mix, officially starting in Seattle.