In a stunning upset at Climate Pledge Arena, rising middleweight contender Joe Pyfer defeated former two-time UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya via technical knockout (punches) at 4:18 of the second round, extending Adesanya’s losing streak to four consecutive fights.
Adesanya, widely regarded as one of the most skilled strikers in UFC history and nicknamed “The Last Stylebender,” started the bout strongly, controlling the distance in round one with his signature precision and movement. However, Pyfer turned the tide in the second round, stunning the former champion with strikes before taking him down.
Pyfer transitioned to back mount, flattened Adesanya out, and unleashed a relentless ground-and-pound attack that forced referee Herb Dean to step in and stop the contest.
The victory marks the biggest win of Pyfer’s career to date. The American contender, known as “Bodybagz,” improves to 16-3 and has now won four straight fights. Post-fight, Pyfer paid respect to his opponent, calling Adesanya “the best middleweight of all time.”
Adesanya, whose professional record now stands at 24-6, was making his return after a lengthy layoff. The Nigerian-born New Zealander has not secured a win since reclaiming the middleweight title in 2023. Despite the setback, Adesanya remained defiant in the aftermath, stating he has no plans to retire and declaring, “I’m not f*cking leaving.”
The bout headlined UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Pyfer (also known as UFC Fight Night 271) on March 28, 2026. The event showcased a mix of veteran experience and emerging talent in the middleweight division.
This result is expected to shake up the middleweight rankings, with Pyfer likely entering the top tier of contenders, while questions linger about the future trajectory of the 36-year-old Adesanya.
Joe Pyfer: “This is the biggest win of my life. Israel Adesanya is the best middleweight of all time… congrats to him, but I’m here to take over.”Israel Adesanya: “I’m not leaving. This isn’t the end.”