By Ghazali Ibrahim
Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya was defeated on Saturday night after suffering a second-round stoppage loss to rising contender Joe Pyfer in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Seattle.
The bout, held at the Climate Pledge Arena, ended at 4 minutes and 18 seconds of the second round, when Pyfer unleashed a flurry of strikes that forced the referee to stop the fight.
Adesanya started brightly, showing flashes of his trademark striking and control in the opening round. However, momentum shifted in the second round as Pyfer increased pressure, mixing striking with grappling to destabilise the former champion.
Pyfer eventually secured a dominant position and delivered a series of unanswered punches, sealing a technical knockout victory in what is being described as the biggest win of his career.
Heading into the fight, Adesanya was looking to snap a difficult run of form, but the defeat now marks another setback in his recent career trajectory.
For Pyfer, the victory represents a breakthrough moment, with the American fighter expected to climb significantly in the UFC middleweight rankings following the upset.
After the fight, Pyfer expressed emotion over the win, describing it as a turning point in his career.
Adesanya, on his part, acknowledged his opponent’s performance and dismissed suggestions of retirement, insisting he will continue fighting.
The defeat adds further pressure on the Nigerian-born star, who has struggled to regain his dominance in the division in recent outings.
