The UFC returns to Seattle with a Middleweight clash in the main event between former champion Israel Adesanya and heavy handed Joe Pyfer this SATURDAY! 

By: Will Brewer

Chris Unger, Zuffa LLC

Israel Adesanya (24-5) returns after a year-long layoff to face rising star Joe Pyfer (15-3) in this Saturday’s UFC fight night main event. The fight comes as a risk to most for Adesanya as he has dropped his last three bouts and needs a big win. The losses have come to former champion Sean Strickland, former champion Dricus Du Plessis, and #2 ranked Nassourdine Imavov. Additionally, the question of ‘is Adesanya done?’ has started to float around.

He remains one of the most skilled strikers in the entire UFC. It will never be easy to formulate a game plan for the Adesanya. Despite the skid, “The Last Stylebender” remains confident that he is not done and looks to deliver a vintage performance on Saturday night.

“I wanna be clean, I wanna go in there and let him hit fresh air,” Adesanya said at media day. “The story I’m writing for myself is after a year off, he comes back and performs better than he ever has.”

Adesanya is one of the longest-reigning middleweight champions of all-time and with a win on Saturday would put himself right back in the conversation with the top guys in the division. However, a fourth consecutive loss would put a huge question mark on the future of his career.

Pyfer comes in as the 14^th ranked middleweight contender and enters the biggest fight of his career thus far. He has won three straight fights against Marc-Andre Barriault, Kelvin Gastelum, and Abus Magomedov. Every win has seen big improvements from Pyfer, since losing his first UFC main event against Jack Hermansson.

He has big punching power, but as of late he has shown an improved ground game. Pyfer won his last fight by submission and may look to go back to that against Adesanya. The threat of the takedown could open more opportunities for Pyfer’s big punches.

Pyfer has shown Adesanya much respect in the lead up to this fight and does not put much stock in his recent losing streak.

“His three fight skid is literally #1 Imavov, #2 DDP, and #3 Strickland. All 3 are above him, give the guy some grace, he’s done a lot in this sport. I’m not gonna pretend like that’s motivation for me. It’s a different challenge, he’s 0-0 against me and I’m 0-0 against him. I don’t make too much of his losses,” Pyfer said at media day.

The two opposing styles make for an intriguing main event on Saturday night. Can Israel Adesanya get back on track and deliver a vintage performance? Or will Joe Pyfer get the biggest win of his career and put his name in title contention?

Jeff Bottari, Zuffa LLC

The co-main event is a rematch between two top ranked flyweight contenders Alexa Grasso and Maycee Barber. The two first fought in 2020 at UFC 258, Grasso picked up the win via unanimous decision.

Grasso ascended to the top and became the Flyweight Champion defeating Valentina Shevchenko in 2023. She fought Shevchenko to a draw in their rematch before dropping the title to her in the trilogy fight. Grasso came up short in her last fight against #1 ranked Natalia Silva.

She mentioned how much she has been working on her ground game and does not rule out a finish either on the feet or on the ground.

“The first fight I was having the better exchanges on the feet, but this time I have been working so hard on my ground game so I would love another by submission. But any area the fight goes, I’ll be ready for that.” Grasso said at media day.

Barber has not lost since her defeat to Grasso, winning seven straight fights. She has wins over ranked flyweights Karine Silva, Kayln Cerminara and Amanda Ribas. Barber has made huge improvements since the first Grasso, and they have contributed to her success. She has made strides in her striking and has shown extreme grit.

Despite Grasso’s recent losing streak, Barber still prepared for an elite level top contender.

“I think this opportunity for me is very good because coming off those losses, I think she is going to be very hungry. I think she is going to be the best version of herself and I’m ready to face that.” Barber said at media day.

The co-main event has all of the ingredients to be a very entertaining fight, the winner will be right in the mix of title fight discussions.

Josh Hedges, Zuffa LLC

The UFC Seattle card will also see the final fight of Michael Chiesa’s career as he will lay the gloves down in his hometown. Chiesa (19-7) is a former Ultimate Fighter winner and fought some of the best guys in the lightweight and welterweight divisions. He has wins over Tony Ferguson, Rafael Dos Anjos, Carlos Condit, Neil Magny, Beneil Dariush, and others. He will step into the octagon for the final time against Niko Price. Price steps in on short notice after Chiesa’s original opponent Carlston Harris had to pull out. We can all expect Price to give Chiesa a dogfight on the way out, and Chiesa wouldn’t want to have it any other way. THANK YOU MICHAEL CHIESA for the all of the amazing fights!

The main card also has a featherweight scrap between Julian Erosa and Lerryan Douglas, the rising star Mansur Abdul-Malik returns to fight Yousri Belgaroui, and a lightweight banger opens the card when Terrance McKinney faces Kyle Nelson.

There are also some good names on the prelims including Ignacio Bahamondes, Chase Hooper, Marcin Tybura, and Navajo Stirling. UFC Seattle looks to be an amazing fight night card! Tune in this Saturday on Paramount +!

Main Card: 

Israel Adesanya vs. Joe Pyfer

Alexa Grasso vs. Maycee Barber

Michael Chiesa vs. Niko Price

Julian Erosa vs. Lerryan Douglas

Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Yousri Belgaroui

Terrance McKinney vs. Kye Nelson

Prelims: 

Ignacio Bahamondes vs. Tofiq Musayev

Chase Hooper vs. Lance Gibson Jr.

Marcin Tybura vs. Tyrell Fortune

Casey O’Neill vs. Gabriella Fernandes

Navajo Stirling vs. Bruno Lopes

Ricky Simon vs. Adrian Yanez

Alexia Thainara vs. Bruna Brasil

THANK YOU FOR READING!!!

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