Joseph Pyfer could’ve just thrown in the towel. Honestly, no one would’ve blamed him.
At 27, this Vineland, New Jersey, native finds himself teetering on the edge of making it big. He’s nearly touching the stars in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s middleweight division. And this, mind you, comes about 1,300 days post a horrific arm injury that nearly ended his career on Dana White’s Contender Series. Now, just hours before facing off against Jack Hermansson in UFC Fight Night 236’s main event in Las Vegas, his resilience shines brighter than ever. It’s this very resilience that’s got him eyeing a spot in the Top 10 at 185 pounds. Dana White noticed. Others, albeit reluctantly, are starting to as well.
Pyfer had something to say about the target on his back. “It’s not about being me in the ring,” he clarified at the pre-fight media day. “It’s about the comeback. I was out, arm broken, career supposedly over. Not just injured. Over. Two major surgeries later, here I am, despite losing half an inch on my reach.”
Since bouncing back from that fateful injury on August 11, 2020, Pyfer has been unstoppable. He’s notched up five straight finishes, including a memorable technical knockout of Osman Diaz on his return to DWCS. This streak has proven a lot, both to himself and the skeptics. Resolve, it turns out, is a powerful thing.
“I wasn’t expected to make a comeback, but here I am,” Pyfer stated. “Winning my contract wasn’t even my best performance. It was all heart, all passion. That win? It was everything. My entire life hinged on it. And that’s the only reason I’m standing here today.”
Now, the stakes are higher than ever. Hermansson represents not just a formidable opponent but Pyfer’s biggest opportunity yet. Few fighters headline a UFC event with just three fights in the organization under their belt. Pyfer, however, is keeping it all in perspective.
“It’s just another fight,” he said, downplaying the main event hype. “Being on a poster, seeing all the support from my loved ones and my team here, it’s overwhelming. It reminds me of how far I’ve come and the doubts I’ve overcome. I’m incredibly grateful.”
Last seen at UFC Fight Night 229, Pyfer made short work of Abdul Razak Alhassan with an arm-triangle choke in the second round. This victory marked his third win in the Octagon, following impressive first-round finishes of Alen Amedovski and Gerald Meerschaert. Despite the whispers of critics, Pyfer believes he’s more than earned his spot at the top.
“Why wouldn’t I deserve this?” he questioned. “I talk the talk and walk the walk. Sure, I could lose, but I’m out here speaking my truth. I’m confident in my words and my beliefs. If I weren’t in the UFC, I’d still watch me. I think I’m good on the mic, good in these interviews. It’s part of the job, even if it’s not my favorite part.”
Hermansson, a former Cage Warriors Fighting Championship titleholder, brings a 10-6 UFC record into the fight. Despite a recent setback, he hasn’t seen back-to-back losses in over a decade. Pyfer, however, remains unphased.
“Jack’s a jack of all trades, master of none,” Pyfer observed. “He’s got skills, but nothing that screams ‘champion’ to me. All the pressure’s on him. I’ve made my adjustments, and I’m ready. He’s not my friend; he’s in my way.”
Pyfer is well aware of what’s at stake at the UFC Apex. He’s not just fighting for a win; he’s fighting for his place among the elite.
“I’m here to push my limits, to see how far I can go,” he declared. “No one’s going to take this from me. This fight could put me in the Top 15, but rankings don’t matter to me. What matters is proving I belong among the best.”
Pyfer’s journey in martial arts began at just 5 years old, competing in jiu-jitsu tournaments. “This sport is my life,” he said. “I couldn’t succeed at anything else. This is my Plan A, my only plan.”