UFC Seattle preview and predictions: Can Israel Adesanya get back on track against Joe Pyfer?

SEATTLE — UFC is back in the Pacific Northwest for the second time in 13 months, as opposed to its previous 12-year absence. Similar to last year, a former champion headlines in an attempt to turn back a hungry rising contender. Israel Adesanya and Joe Pyfer have gone in opposite directions in their last three fights.

The former two-time middleweight champion Adesanya has failed to find victory since being dethroned by Sean Strickland in September 2023. The loss started the slide of the "Last Stylebender," while Philadelphia's Pyfer has found his stride following his first main event effort against Jack Hermansson in 2024. A Pyfer win would further shuffle the 185-pound deck, but Adesanya has only lost to the cream of the crop, making him a pivotal guard to the division's elite.

The co-main event features a long-awaited rematch between flyweight's finest. Former champion Alexa Grasso will once again square off with Maycee Barber, who hasn't lost since her defeat to Grasso, winning seven straight. Barber is highly confident that a win will secure her first title shot, but her old foe has other plans.

For a Fight Night event, Seattle gets somewhat spoiled two years in a row. Name value and quality matchmaking balances out the evening from the jump, and closes out with a main event that can tell us plenty about each fighter. 👑 UFC Seattle’s lineup Crown grade: B-.