Israel Adesanya fights for UFC survival against Joe Pyfer in Seattle
Former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya faces a crucial test for his career survival when he takes on rising American contender Joe Pyfer at UFC Seattle this weekend.
The 36-year-old enters the octagon on a concerning three-fight losing streak.
A defeat in Washington state could genuinely spell the end of the Nigerian-born New Zealander’s illustrious tenure in the promotion.
He last competed in February, suffering a devastating technical knockout defeat at the hands of Nassourdine Imavov.
A dangerous rising star
Standing across the cage is an opponent operating at the opposite end of his career trajectory.
The 29-year-old boasts an impressive 6-1 record since joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship and is currently riding a three-fight winning streak.
The powerful American has built a fearsome reputation, securing 13 of his 15 professional victories via stoppage.
That recent run included a notable decision victory over former title challenger Kelvin Gastelum.
The former kickboxing king must rely on his trademark slick movement to avoid joining that stoppage list.
Schedule and broadcast details
The preliminary bouts are scheduled to begin at 21:00 GMT on Saturday evening.
Fans in the UK can watch the main card action unfold from midnight on Sunday via TNT Sports.
US audiences will be able to stream the entire event live on Paramount+.
Main Card Line-up
The scheduled main card for the Seattle event features several high-profile match-ups alongside the headline attraction.
- Israel Adesanya vs Joe Pyfer (Middleweight)
- Alexa Grasso vs Maycee Barber 2 (Women’s flyweight)
- Michael Chiesa vs Carlston Harris (Welterweight)
- Julian Erosa vs Lerryan Douglas (Featherweight)
- Mansur Abdul-Malik vs Yoursi Belgaroui (Middleweight)
- Terrance McKinney vs Kyle Nelson (Lightweight)
