Pyfer TKOs Adesanya in 2nd round of UFC Seattle main event

Joe Pyfer earned the biggest win of his career, stopping former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya via TKO in the UFC Seattle main event Saturday night at Climate Pledge Arena.

The finish came at the 4:18 mark of the second round.

After trading blows with Adesanya, Pyfer got on top of his opponent midway through the frame and began seeking a finish. He eventually flattened Adesanya out and landed a flurry of ground-and-pound that forced referee Herb Dean to intervene.

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"We knew I had the bigger firepower, so we were just gonna keep that pressure on him," Pyfer said in his postfight interview.

Adesanya had a promising start to the fight, outlanding Pyfer 37-9 in the first round. He battered Pyfer with calf kicks, landed a nice knee to the head, and attacked the body.

The two middleweights exchanged heavy punches on the feet to open the second round. Eventually, Adesanya got a bit too aggressive and Pyfer capitalized, wobbling "The Last Stylebender" before dragging him to the mat and setting up the finishing sequence.

"I was super sloppy yet again, getting my leg beat up," Pyfer said. "But I just kind of had this mentality that I don't care, I'm gonna search and destroy, and you better put me out because I'm not stopping."

With the victory, Pyfer, who's been one of the most promising up-and-comers in the middleweight division over the last few years, officially enters the title conversation. Adesanya and Pyfer were ranked Nos. 4 and 14, respectively, coming in.

Pyfer, 29, extended his winning streak to four and climbed to 7-1 in the Octagon overall.

Adesanya, a former two-time champion, stepped into the cage for the first time since February 2025. He's now riding a four-fight losing streak and has lost five of his last six appearances. The 36-year-old New Zealander hasn't won a fight since knocking out Alex Pereira to regain the 185-pound title in April 2023.

Adesanya said he has no plans to walk away from the sport after his latest loss.

"You keep going - again and again and again and again and again," Adesanya said in his postfight interview. "I'm not f------g leaving. You will never stop me. I might get beaten, but I will always remain undefeated."