Former Champion Adesanya Suffers Stunning Defeat in UFC Seattle

Joe Pyfer earns the biggest win of his career, finishing the former middleweight king in the second round.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 5:20am

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In the main event of UFC Fight Night 271 in Seattle, rising contender Joe Pyfer scored a stunning second-round TKO victory over former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya. Pyfer, who had declared Adesanya the best middleweight in UFC history, delivered on his pre-fight promise by relentlessly finishing the former champion. The win marks Pyfer's fourth straight victory, three of which have been stoppages. Meanwhile, Adesanya now finds himself on a four-fight losing skid, with his last two defeats coming by way of TKO.

Why it matters

Pyfer's upset victory over the former champion shakes up the UFC middleweight division and establishes him as a legitimate contender. Adesanya's recent struggles raise questions about his future at the top of the weight class, as he looks to bounce back from this devastating defeat.

The details

The end came late in the second round, as Pyfer caught Adesanya and was relentless, forcing the referee to step in and call off the fight. Pyfer has now won four in a row, with three of those wins coming by stoppage. Adesanya, meanwhile, has lost four straight fights, with his last two defeats coming by TKO.

  • The UFC Fight Night 271 event took place on March 29, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.
  • The main event between Pyfer and Adesanya ended in the second round.

The players

Joe Pyfer

A rising contender in the UFC middleweight division who earned the biggest win of his career by finishing former champion Israel Adesanya.

Israel Adesanya

The former UFC middleweight champion who suffered his fourth consecutive loss, with his last two defeats coming by TKO.

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What they’re saying

“Joe Pyfer earned the biggest win of his career, finishing Israel Adesanya.”

— Dana Becker, Author

What’s next

Pyfer's upset victory over Adesanya will likely earn him a top contender fight as he looks to continue his rise up the middleweight rankings. Adesanya, meanwhile, will need to regroup and find a way to end his current losing skid if he hopes to regain his status as one of the elite middleweights in the UFC.

The takeaway

Pyfer's stunning finish of the former champion Adesanya shakes up the middleweight division and shows that there are new contenders emerging who are capable of dethroning the division's established stars. This result will have major implications for the future of the 185-pound weight class in the UFC.