Joe Pyfer made a major statement at UFC 320, earning a hard-fought win over Abus Magomedov to reaffirm his place as one of the middleweight division’s rising contenders on Saturday night.
However, on fight night, Pyfer admitted the energy just wasn’t there. It took him the entire first round to get going.
“My mind was so sharp this week. I felt good, I did all the work. We knew that I was physically prepared the best I ever have been,” Pyfer told reporters including Cageside Press at his post-fight scrum.
“For whatever reason man, I don’t know if it was the rehydration. I felt tired during the day today and I didn’t take a nap. I was literally about to fall asleep. My body just wasn’t energetic.”
Pyfer (15-3) came away with the win, but admitted he didn’t feel like himself early in the fight. The middleweight contender was candid about his slow start and the moment that finally flipped the switch.
“I felt flat. At the shakeout I felt amazing. After that I just felt flat. I don’t know what it was. After Abus whooped my ass in the first round I woke up, and my coaches got in my ass about what I needed to do,” he said.
“I noticed on my own at the end of the first round that Abus was definitely breathing. I could heard it. I knew I was going to start putting on the pressure. I woke up after that.”
Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Joe Pyfer above.
