Israel Adesanya’s streak of defeats continued on Saturday night in Seattle, as he suffered a second-round knockout loss to Joe Pyfer, marking his fourth consecutive defeat in the UFC. Adesanya, the former two-time UFC middleweight champion, has now lost to Sean Strickland, Dricus du Plessis, and Nassourdine Imavov in addition to Pyfer. However, despite the tough run, the 36-year-old has no intentions of retiring anytime soon.
Adesanya, who last won in 2023 when he avenged a loss to Alex Pereira, was adamant about his future in the sport after the fight. “You keep going. Again and again and again,” Adesanya said during his post-fight interview. “I’m not f****** leaving. You’ll never stop me. I might get beat, but I’ll always remain undefeated.”
The fight against Joe Pyfer was a challenging one for Adesanya. While the Nigerian-born Kiwi started off with some solid defense and leg kicks, Pyfer quickly took control of the bout. A left hook followed by a body shot and a powerful right hand left Adesanya reeling. The referee stepped in after Pyfer slammed Adesanya to the mat and struck from the back, ending the fight in the second round.
Despite the loss, Pyfer had nothing but praise for Adesanya. “Izzy is not the most powerful guy in the world, but he’s one of the highest fight IQ champions of all time. There’s nobody better. In my book, he’s the best middleweight of all time,” Pyfer said post-fight.
Adesanya responded to the praise by acknowledging Pyfer’s performance. “I expected the best Joe Pyfer. I knew this was his biggest fight ever. I expected his best, and he brought the best,” he remarked. The loss marked his third consecutive stoppage defeat, but Adesanya’s resolve remains unshaken.
Adesanya’s legendary career is far from over, and his focus remains on his future in the sport. “It’s been 13 months since I last fought. I wanted to feel like I’ve been in a fight, and Pyfer gave me that,” Adesanya reflected.
Though the future may be uncertain, Adesanya’s fighting spirit shows no sign of fading. He remains a formidable figure in the middleweight division, committed to continuing his journey despite recent setbacks.
