UFC Seattle: Joe Pyfer faces another prove-it moment against legend Israel Adesanya
Now on a strong three-fight win streak, Pyfer has found a new stride as he meets the former champ in the main event of UFC Seattle.
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. 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.