We often view UFC fighters as indestructible people, immune to the everyday trials of life. That assumption could not be further from the truth. Many fighters have been through hell just to get an opportunity in the UFC. Philadelphia’s Joe Pyfer is one of them.
In our interview with Pyfer and director Chandler Henry, the two discussed Journey to the UFC, a documentary about the difficult road Pyfer traveled to reach the Octagon. Henry wanted to tell the story of his longtime friend. On television, we see the glory that follows Joe’s wins. The film shows what came before them.
Despite his remarkable rise to the UFC, Pyfer had to overcome trauma, homelessness and injuries to get where he is today. Journey to the UFC offers a rare look at both the highs and lows of his life.
Be Like Joe Pyfer
At the time of our interview, Joe Pyfer was 2-0 in the UFC with two first-round knockouts. After standing out on Dana White’s Contender Series, he had made the most of his opportunity with a hot start to his UFC career.
Training out of Marquez MMA and Webb Fitness & MMA, Pyfer was making a name for himself among Philadelphia’s fighters. He was preparing to compete at Fury Grappling 7 that May and hoping to book another UFC fight as soon as possible.
Alongside his training, Pyfer had spent the previous year working on the documentary with Henry. Having a movie about his life was not about Hollywood accolades for Joe. He wanted to share his message with children and with people facing circumstances like the ones he had survived.
The Story of Joe Pyfer’s Rise to the UFC
Henry met Pyfer in high school and always looked up to him as a “real-life superhero.” But behind Joe’s powerful personality, Chandler knew there was more to his story.
Without spoiling too much of the film, Pyfer had an incredibly difficult upbringing. He describes an abusive relationship with his father, being separated from his family and sleeping on a park bench. He also faced injuries that nearly ended his fighting career. Joe had anything but an easy climb to the UFC.
Through perseverance and the support of people around him, Pyfer kept going. Henry does a fantastic job of honoring his friend’s story. The documentary gives viewers a look at something harrowing and deeply human, including the parts of a fighter’s life that rarely make it into a post-fight interview.
The documentary premiered on May 4, 2023, at Dream Live at American Dream in New Jersey. Alex Davis and Disruptive Sports Group hosted the event. Coach John Marquez, UFC analyst Laura Sanko, UFC veteran Eddie Alvarez and many others attended. The film reportedly left many viewers in tears.
The film has since been released. In 2025, Henry announced that it was available to watch on The Roku Channel.
Find Something You Love
For both Henry and Pyfer, the most important part of this documentary is getting its message out into the world. Joe wants it to reach people who are struggling as he once did.
Pyfer said finding something he loved helped him through hard times. MMA gave him a place to put his focus and something to fight for while he was dealing with abuse at home. He also talked about the importance of finding your family. Although he did not feel he had that support at home, he formed bonds with MMA mentors, wrestling coaches and teammates he still considers family.
There will always be people who struggle, but there are also people who care. Pyfer wants viewers to know how much it matters to find those people. This is not a movie made only for MMA fans. Its message can reach anyone who has needed support or wondered how to keep going.
Since our interview, Pyfer has continued to build his UFC career. In March 2026, he stopped former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya in the second round of their main event, the biggest win of his career. It is another remarkable moment for a fighter whose path to the UFC once seemed far from certain.
Journey to the UFC is a reminder that the person behind a fighter’s success has a story worth hearing. Joe Pyfer may be a UFC fighter, but the message he wanted to share with us was simple. You do not have to fight in the Octagon to face a battle of your own, and you do not have to face it alone.
Hear Joe Pyfer and Chandler Henry talk about making Journey to the UFC and why they wanted to share Joe’s story in our full interview below:
