Israel Adesanya suffered a fourth consecutive defeat in his MMA career after being stopped by Joe Pyfer at UFC Seattle.
Pyfer delivered the biggest win of his career, earning a second-round knockout victory that is expected to propel him into the UFC middleweight top four.
Adesanya, the Nigerian-born former champion, has struggled for form since losing his title to Sean Strickland in September 2023, with subsequent defeats to Dricus du Plessis and Nassourdine Imavov. He showed flashes of his trademark striking brilliance, engaging Pyfer in a competitive stand-up battle for much of the fight.
However, the contest shifted decisively in the second round when Pyfer took Adesanya’s back, asserted control on the ground, and unleashed a barrage of punches, forcing referee Herb Dean to stop the fight at 4:18.
Despite the latest setback, Adesanya has made it clear he has no intention of retiring and remains committed to continuing his career.
An emotional Pyfer paid tribute to his opponent after the bout, saying, “God restored me—that’s the only reason I’m here. Adesanya is one of the highest-IQ champions ever and the greatest middleweight of all time.”
