Joe Piper’s Stunning TKO Victory Over Israel Adesanya: What This Means for the UFC Middleweight Rankings

Joe Pyfer–Israel Adesanya / Photo: UFC

[Sports Today reporter Kang Tae-gu] Joe “Bodybags” Pyfer (29, USA) extended his win streak to four by finishing former UFC middleweight (83.9 kg) champion Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya (36, Nigeria/New Zealand).

No. 14-ranked Pyfer stopped No. 4 Adesanya by TKO at 4:18 of the second round from punches from the back mount in the main event of UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Pyfer at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on the 29th (Korean time). The victory over the former champion puts Pyfer firmly in position to push for a top-five ranking.

Adesanya suffered another late collapse. Since losing the middleweight title to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in 2023, Adesanya has dropped four straight fights. In the last three bouts a pattern emerged: he won the opening round only to be overturned. In this one he began well—landing calf kicks, punches and a knee in the first round—before Pyfer mounted a comeback in the second.

It was relentless pressure that set the stage for Pyfer’s turnaround. Adesanya pressed forward after landing heavy shots in round one and again early in round two as he hunted for the finish. Once the distance tightened, Pyfer’s power started to show. He connected with back-to-back right overhand hooks, followed by a left body shot and an uppercut, swinging momentum in his favor.

A decisive takedown followed. Pinned against the cage under Pyfer’s barrage, Adesanya fired back but lost his balance while trying to push out. Pyfer seized the opening, clinched and dragged Adesanya to the canvas. After a sequence on the mat, Pyfer secured back mount and rained punches to both sides of Adesanya’s head. When Adesanya could no longer defend himself, the referee stepped in and stopped the fight. Pyfer improved his professional record to 16 wins and 3 losses (UFC: 7-1).

In the postfight interview Pyfer called the moment surreal, saying, “It felt like I had seen this moment before.” He added that he came close to doing something extreme a few weeks ago, but then found God. “God lifted me back up, and that’s the only reason I’m standing here today,” he said.

Pyfer also broke down the game plan that produced the comeback. “I knew my power was stronger, so I planned to keep the pressure in Round 2,” he said. “I find my opponent and break him. To stop me, they would have to finish me.”

He made a point to praise Adesanya, calling him a fighter with the highest fight IQ and, in his view, the greatest middleweight ever. “I’ll support him in whatever he does next. I love him as a champion and as a person,” Pyfer said. He added that with Adesanya ranked No. 4, his win should vault him into the top five and that he’s ready whenever the division needs him.

Adesanya, now mired in four straight losses, vowed he will keep fighting and is not considering retirement. “I have to keep moving forward. I’m not going anywhere,” he said, adding, “You can lose fights, but you can never break me.”

On the co-main, former UFC women’s flyweight (56.7 kg) champion Alexa Grasso (32, Mexico) delivered a dramatic finish: a one-two knockout followed immediately by a submission attempt.

No. 3-ranked Grasso knocked out No. 5 Macy Barber (27, USA) at 2:42 of the first round—first with a one-two, then a right hand that rendered Barber unconscious. Unaware Barber had gone out, Grasso wrapped her neck and locked in a rear-naked choke. The referee stopped the bout when he saw Barber had lost consciousness, and the result was recorded as a KO. Grasso avenged their first meeting five years earlier and moved her overall record to 17 wins, 1 draw and 5 losses (UFC: 9-1-5).

After the fight Grasso said, “An uninjured Alexa Grasso is on a completely different level.” She added that while striking is her first weapon, she has also been working hard on her jiu-jitsu to finish fights.

Grasso outlined two goals: she wants the UFC to hold a Mexico commemorative event, Noche UFC, in her hometown of Guadalajara, and she wants a fourth meeting with champion Valentina Shevchenko (38, Kyrgyzstan/Peru). Grasso is 1-1-1 against Shevchenko across three title fights. At the postfight press conference she admitted she doesn’t know how many more wins she needs for another title shot but vowed to keep training and winning until she gets there.

[Sports Today reporter Kang Tae-gu sports@stoo.com]
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