Adesanya suffered another damaging setback to his career after being stopped by rising contender Joe Pyfer in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Seattle.
Pyfer claimed a career-defining victory with a second-round technical knockout, finishing the bout at 4:18 after a decisive shift in momentum.
The 29-year-old overwhelmed Adesanya with a combination of striking and grappling, sealing the win with brutal ground-and-pound.
Fight Breakdown
Adesanya (24-6) started brightly, showcasing his trademark movement and striking accuracy while successfully defending early takedown attempts.
The Nigerian-born star appeared in control for much of the opening round and into the early stages of the second.
However, the tide turned dramatically when Pyfer (16-3) landed a sharp counter left hook, followed by a punishing body shot and a clean right hand that left Adesanya visibly shaken.
Sensing the opportunity, Pyfer pressed forward, secured a takedown, and quickly advanced to a dominant back position.
Despite briefly defending a submission attempt, Adesanya had no answer to the relentless strikes that followed, forcing the referee to stop the contest.
Fourth Straight Defeat for Adesanya
The loss marks Adesanya’s fourth consecutive defeat and his third straight stoppage, raising fresh concerns about the future of the former champion in the division.
Despite the result, Adesanya remained resolute in his post-fight reaction.
“I’m not leaving. You keep going again and again… I might get beat, but I’ll always remain undefeated,” he said.
Breakthrough Moment for Pyfer
For Pyfer, the victory represents the biggest moment of his career and is expected to significantly boost his standing in the middleweight rankings.
Heading into the bout as the No. 14-ranked contender, he not only defeated a top-five opponent but did so in emphatic fashion against one of the sport’s most accomplished fighters.
Pyfer also showed respect to Adesanya throughout fight week and after the bout, acknowledging his opponent’s legacy as one of the greatest middleweights in UFC history.
The result signals a potential changing of the guard in the division, with Pyfer emerging as a serious contender, while Adesanya faces mounting pressure to halt a troubling run of form.
