Israel Adesanya Returns, Draws Joe Pyfer in UFC Seattle Main Event
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Former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is back in action. This time, against Joe Pyfer in the main event of UFC Seattle on March 28 at the Climate Pledge Arena. UFC CEO Dana White revealed the matchup on Tuesday.
The bout marks a crucial moment for Adesanya (24-5). He finds himself in unfamiliar territory amid the first losing streak of his career.
After reclaiming the middleweight title by knocking out Alex Pereira in their rematch, Adesanya dropped a stunning decision to Sean Strickland. He was later submitted by Dricus du Plessis in an immediate title opportunity. Most recently, he suffered a knockout loss to Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Saudi Arabia, marking his third defeat in a row.
Despite the setbacks, Adesanya remains one of the UFC’s biggest stars and most reliable headliners. A win in Seattle would help reestablish his footing in a division that has dramatically shifted during his absence.
Across from him will be Pyfer (15-3), who enters the highest-profile fight of his career. “Bodybagz” has rebounded strongly from his lone UFC loss to Jack Hermansson, rattling off three consecutive victories. His recent run includes a brutal knockout of Marc-Andre Barriault, a statement decision over Kelvin Gastelum, and a submission win over Abus Magomedov.
Pyfer has amassed a 6-1 record inside the Octagon. He finished five of those wins, and has rapidly rebuilt his momentum in the middleweight division. A victory over a former champion like Adesanya would instantly elevate him into top-10 territory and potentially put him on the cusp of title contention.
White also confirmed that former flyweight champion Alexa Grasso will face surging contender Maycee Barber in the co-main event. It’s a pivotal matchup that could determine the next challenger at 125 pounds. Barber enters on a seven-fight winning streak, while Grasso looks to rebound after a loss to Natalia Silva.
UFC Seattle marks the promotion’s second return to the city in as many years following a long hiatus. Below is the current lineup, with more fights expected to be added:
UFC Seattle (Current Lineup)
- Israel Adesanya vs. Joe Pyfer
- Alexa Grasso vs. Maycee Barber
- Casey O’Neill vs. Gabriella Fernandes
- Marcin Tybura vs. Valter Walker
- Nicolle Caliari vs. Carol Fiori
- Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Yousri Belgaroui
- Zhu Kangjie vs. Marcio Barbosa
UFC has not announced the finalized bout order yet.
Joe Pyfer’s Unfiltered Response to UFC Mexico City Withdrawal
Check out our YouTube video covering the night he was forced to pull out of UFC Mexico City against Kelvin Gastelum.
If you missed it, we ended up breaking down Joe Pyfer’s chaotic UFC Mexico City withdrawal. It was an incident that turned into a headline-grabbing moment after his unfiltered Instagram Live explanation blew up online.
In the video, we piece together the full timeline using social media clips, screenshots, and interviews to explain exactly what led to Pyfer pulling out of the Kelvin Gastelum fight and how the drama bled into the buildup for UFC 316.
Watch the full video here:
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