Joe Pyfer

Joseph Oliver Pyfer (born September 17, 1996) is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of August 29, 2026, he is #4 in the Meta UFC middleweight rankings.

Background Raised in Pittsgrove Township, New Jersey, Pyfer attended Arthur P. Schalick High School and started competing on the school's wrestling team in tenth grade, where he was able to apply jiu jitsu and judo skills he learned as a child.

Mixed martial arts career Early career Pyfer made his professional MMA debut in his home town of Philadelphia in May 2018. He won his debut and competed seven more times and went 7–1, winning the AOWCF and ROC Middleweight Championship along the way. Eight fights into his MMA career, Pyfer would have his first bout in the Dana White's Contender Series.

Dana White's Contender Series Pyfer faced Dustin Stoltzfus at Dana White's Contender Series 28 on August 11, 2020. He lost the fight via technical knockout due to an injury stemming from a slam.

Pyfer faced Ozzy Diaz at Dana White's Contender Series 47 on July 26, 2022. He won the bout via technical knockout and was awarded a contract with the UFC. He won the fight via technical knockout in round one. This fight earned him his first Performance of the Night award.

Pyfer faced Gerald Meerschaert on April 8, 2023, at UFC 287. He won the bout via TKO in the first round.

Pyfer faced Abdul Razak Alhassan on October 7, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 229. He won the fight via technical submission in the second round after rendering Alhassan unconscious with an arm-triangle choke. This fight earned him his second Performance of the Night award.

Pyfer faced Jack Hermansson on February 10, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 236. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Pyfer faced Marc-André Barriault on June 29, 2024 at UFC 303. He won the fight by knockout in the first round. This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.

Pyfer was scheduled to face Kelvin Gastelum on March 29, 2025 at UFC on ESPN 64. However, despite both men weighing in for the bout, the match was cancelled the day of the event due to an illness sustained by Pyfer. The bout was rescheduled and took place on June 7, 2025 at UFC 316. After landing two knockdowns, Pyfer won the fight by unanimous decision.

Pyfer faced Abusupiyan Magomedov on October 4, 2025 at UFC 320. He won the fight via a face crank submission in the second round. This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.

Pyfer faced former two-time UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya in the main event on March 28, 2026 at UFC Fight Night 271. He won the fight via technical knockout in the second round. This fight earned him a $100,000 Performance of the Night award.

Pyfer was targeted to face Caio Borralho on August 15, 2026 at UFC 330 but Borralho's rib injury prevented the fight from taking place.

Professional grappling career Pyfer faced Gerald Meerschaert in the main event of Fury Pro Grappling 7 on May 27, 2023. He won the match by unanimous decision.

Pyfer faced Nick Willey at Fury Pro Grappling 12 on December 28, 2024. He won the match by golden score in overtime.

Freestyle wrestling Pyfer is scheduled to face former UFC Middleweight Champion Luke Rockhold on September 19, 2026 at RAF 13.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship Performance of the Night (Five times) 2025: President's Choice Performance of the Year Nominee Art of War Cage Fighting AOWCF Middleweight Championship (One time) Ring of Combat ROC Middleweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record Win

Israel Adesanya TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Adesanya vs. Pyfer

Seattle, Washington, United States Win

Abusupiyan Magomedov Submission (face crank) UFC 320

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Kelvin Gastelum Decision (unanimous) UFC 316

Newark, New Jersey, United States Win

Marc-André Barriault KO (punches) UFC 303

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Jack Hermansson Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Abdul Razak Alhassan Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. Green

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Gerald Meerschaert TKO (punches) UFC 287

Miami, Florida, United States Win

Alen Amedovski TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Song

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Osman Diaz TKO (punches) Dana White's Contender Series 47

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Austin Trotman KO (punch) Cage Fury FC 104

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Loss

Dustin Stoltzfus TKO (elbow injury) Dana White's Contender Series 28

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Chase Gamble TKO (punches) Ring of Combat 71

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Loss

Jhonoven Pati Submission (guillotine choke) Ring of Combat 70

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Matt Foster TKO (punches) Ring of Combat 69

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Elijah Gbollie KO (elbow and punch) Ring of Combat 68

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Eric Roncoroni Submission (rear-naked choke) Art of War Cage Fighting 11

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Lorenzo Hunt Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) Art of War Cage Fighting 8

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Derek Wilson Decision (unanimous) CES MMA 52

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Steven Covington TKO (punches) Art of War Cage Fighting 7

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States