"On Tuesday, UFC CEO and President Dana White took to social media to reveal that former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya (24-5) would face DWCS vet Joe Pyfer (15-3) at the event, in the five-round headliner. The move likely puts to bed any talk of "The Last Stylebender" retiring, despite having lost three straight bouts. With UFC 325 in Australia so close to home just a month prior, the match-up seems more like a chance for one of the promotion's biggest stars to right the ship, or conversely, for Pyfer to take the next step onto the big stage."
"As for Pyfer, he's won his last three bouts. That includes a decision over an old Adesanya rival, Kelvin Gastelum, and a face crank submission of Abus Magomedov. Earning a contract on the 2022 season of the Contender Series, Pyfer has proven to be one of the biggest stars from the later seasons of the show. Which might be why, given he's ranked at just #15 in the division, he's getting a crack at the #6-ranked former champion."
Israel Adesanya will face Joe Pyfer in a five-round main event at UFC Seattle on March 28, 2026, at Climate Pledge Arena. Adesanya is 24-5 and has lost three straight fights after two middleweight title reigns and a failed light heavyweight title attempt. Pyfer is 15-3, earned a UFC contract via the 2022 Contender Series, and has won his last three bouts including victories over Kelvin Gastelum and Abus Magomedov. Pyfer is ranked #15 while Adesanya sits at #6 in the division. The reported card also includes Alexa Grasso vs. Maycee Barber and multiple undercard matchups.
Read at Cageside Press
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]