UFC Seattle was set to answer one key question with its main event: is Israel Adesanya still a viable contender in the 185lb division.
The former two-time middleweight champion and future Hall of Famer is unquestionably a star. Yet after three straight losses to Sean Strickland, Dricus Du Plessis and Nassourdine Imavov, then a year off, “The Last Stylebender” now had to prove his viability against the durable, hard-hitting Joe Pyfer.
One of the bigger stars to come out of Dana White’s Contender Series in recent years, Pyfer had stumbled in his first step up in competition, against Jack Hermansson. He’d since notched three straight victories, including one over old Adesanya foe Kelvin Gastelum, to land himself in a big main event with a former champ.
Adesanya at 36 might be closer to the end of his career than the beginning, but a win on Saturday at UFC Seattle could shoot him back to the top, especially with Khamzat Chiamev lined up to fight Sean Strickland shortly. Given Adesanya’s history with Strickland, a rematch would no doubt sell; Chimaev might be a stylistic nightmare, but Adesanya has never been one to shy away from a fight.
Joe Pyfer, ranked #14, is much further away from a title shot, no matter what the UFC Seattle broadcast would have you believe. Still, a win would jump him up in to the top 10, given Adesanya himself was ranked #4.
Following UFC Seattle, tune into the night’s post-fight press conference (above) to stay on top of all the latest news.
