Joe Pyfer Offers Advice to Beat UFC Champ Khamzat Chimaev

Pyfer suggests a game plan to frustrate the dominant middleweight titleholder.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 5:50pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the chaotic action of a UFC middleweight title fight, with sharp planes and angles representing the intense grappling and striking exchanges between the two fighters.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes UFC middleweight title clash between champion Khamzat Chimaev and challenger Sean Strickland.Newark Today

UFC middleweight contender Joe Pyfer believes he has a strategy to defeat the undefeated champion Khamzat Chimaev. Pyfer suggests that fighters need to stay disciplined in the first 10 minutes of the fight, ready for Chimaev's relentless wrestling, and try to make the fight chaotic instead of letting Chimaev control the pace. Pyfer also weighed in on Chimaev's upcoming title defense against former champion Sean Strickland, saying Strickland has a chance if he can survive the early onslaught.

Why it matters

Chimaev has been a dominant force in the UFC, with his wrestling and grappling skills overwhelming most opponents. Pyfer's insights provide a potential blueprint for how fighters can approach Chimaev and potentially dethrone the champion.

The details

Pyfer believes the key to beating Chimaev is to be disciplined in the early going, ready to defend the takedown, and then try to make the fight chaotic instead of letting Chimaev dictate the pace. Pyfer thinks Chimaev is uncomfortable when he can't control the fight, so fighters should throw a lot of strikes up the middle and change levels to frustrate the champion. As for Chimaev's upcoming title defense against Strickland, Pyfer believes Strickland has a chance if he can survive the early storm, as he has better wrestling than Chimaev's previous challenger Dricus Du Plessis.

  • Chimaev will defend his middleweight title against Sean Strickland at UFC 328 on May 9, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey.

The players

Joe Pyfer

A rising UFC middleweight contender who emerged as a top contender after finishing former champion Israel Adesanya.

Khamzat Chimaev

The reigning and undefeated UFC middleweight champion, known for his dominant wrestling and grappling skills.

Sean Strickland

A former UFC middleweight champion who will challenge Chimaev for the title at UFC 328.

Dricus Du Plessis

The former UFC middleweight champion who lost the title to Chimaev.

Israel Adesanya

The former UFC middleweight champion whom Pyfer defeated.

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What they’re saying

“I think you have to obviously do your due diligence on your wrestling and understand that the only thing that he's going to throw in the beginning is to set up that initial takedown. He wants to wrestle early so he could fatigue you, and if you're super disciplined, I would say probably for the first 10 minutes of that fight, where you're just ready for the shot, and you're just throwing everything up the middle and changing levels with him, or you are staying low, and you're staying grounded so that he doesn't get a chance to get under you, I think that you have a very, very good chance of winning.”

— Joe Pyfer, UFC Middleweight Contender

“He doesn't want chaos, he wants control, so if you can make it chaotic, he's going to struggle.”

— Joe Pyfer, UFC Middleweight Contender

“These guys got true beef. I think Sean Strickland is a good fighter. I think Khamzat is an excellent wrestler and a good fighter. He's got aura about him. He's fun to watch. I do have Sean Strickland in my heart winning.”

— Joe Pyfer, UFC Middleweight Contender

What’s next

The highly anticipated UFC middleweight title fight between champion Khamzat Chimaev and challenger Sean Strickland will take place at UFC 328 on May 9, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey.

The takeaway

Chimaev's dominant wrestling and grappling skills have made him a formidable champion, but Pyfer believes there is a path to victory for opponents who can stay disciplined early, defend the takedown, and force Chimaev into a chaotic fight where he is less comfortable. This provides a potential blueprint for future challengers looking to dethrone the undefeated titleholder.