Israel Adesanya Knocked Out By Joe Pyfer In Second Round Clash

Nigerian-born UFC star Israel Adesanya has suffered a fourth consecutive defeat after being knocked out by Joe Pyfer in the second round of their middleweight bout in Washington on Saturday night, March 28.

The former two-time champion entered the fight hoping to end a poor run of form and started brightly, winning the opening round with his sharp striking and movement.

Adesanya looked composed early on, showing flashes of the skill that once made him one of the most dominant fighters in the division.

However, the momentum shifted dramatically in round two as Pyfer increased the pressure.

The fight quickly turned into a brawl, with the American landing heavy punches that forced Adesanya onto the defensive.

Pyfer then secured a takedown and dominated on the ground, unleashing a series of unanswered strikes.

With Adesanya unable to defend himself effectively, referee Herb Dean stepped in to stop the fight with 42 seconds remaining in the round.

The loss extends Adesanya’s difficult run since his victory over Alex Pereira in 2023.

Since then, he has suffered defeats to Sean Strickland, Dricus du Plessis, and Nassourdine Imavov.

Once a dominant force in the middleweight division, Adesanya now faces serious questions about his future in the sport as his losing streak stretches to four fights.