Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya suffered his fourth consecutive loss after falling to American contender Joe Pyfer via technical knockout at UFC Fight Night on Saturday.
Pyfer delivered a career-defining performance, stopping Adesanya at 4:18 of the second round in their main event clash at the Climate Pledge Arena.
Adesanya made a bright start to the bout, showcasing his trademark movement and striking precision to take control of the opening round. However, Pyfer weathered the early storm and gradually shifted momentum with heavy punches and a well-timed takedown.
The turning point came in the second round when Pyfer pressed Adesanya against the fence before taking the fight to the ground. From there, he advanced to full mount and unleashed a barrage of strikes, forcing referee Herb Dean to stop the contest.
Reacting after the win, Pyfer said his aggressive mindset was key to the victory. “I just have this mentality where I don’t care; I’m going to search and destroy,” he stated.
Despite the setback, Adesanya remained defiant, insisting he would continue fighting. “I’m just going to keep going and going and going,” he said.
The loss adds to a difficult run for the 36-year-old, who has now been beaten in four straight fights, following defeats to Sean Strickland, Dricus du Plessis, and Nassourdine Imavov.
For Pyfer, the victory extends his winning streak to four fights and significantly boosts his standing in the middleweight division, potentially moving him closer to title contention.
