Joe Pyfer delivered the biggest victory of his career on Saturday night, stopping former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in the second round of their main event bout at UFC Seattle inside Climate Pledge Arena.
The emphatic finish marked a major milestone for Pyfer (16-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC), who has rapidly climbed the ranks and now positions himself among the elite in the middleweight division. For Adesanya (24-6 MMA, 13-6 UFC), widely regarded as one of the most accomplished strikers in UFC history, the loss represents his fourth consecutive defeat.
In the lead-up to the fight, Pyfer spoke openly about finding faith, a theme that carried into his post-fight remarks. Despite the decisive nature of his victory, Pyfer expressed deep respect and admiration for Adesanya during an interview with Full Send MMA.
“I love you, brother,” Pyfer said. “Thank you for that opportunity to share history with you, to make a great memory in my life. I know you're set, so that makes me feel a little better. I know you're good. Life after fighting, you're good.”
Pyfer continued by praising Adesanya’s character and openness, particularly in their interactions surrounding his personal beliefs.
“But thank you so much, brother. You're a class act,” he said. “Thank you for being receptive to my kindness and my faith and even asking what happened. There's not many real ones like you, brother.”
Looking ahead, Pyfer even floated the idea of training alongside the former champion, signaling both respect and ambition as he eyes the next phase of his career.
“I would love to come train and learn from you, especially now that I'm at the top of the food chain as one of the best in the world,” Pyfer added. “I would love to come train with you.”
