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 March 31, 2026, he is #6 in the UFC middleweight rankings.

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.

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.

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.

Making his UFC debut, Pyfer faced Alen Amedovski on September 17, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 210. 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 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.

• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • Performance of the Night (Five times) vs. Alen Amedovski, Abdul Razak Alhassan, Marc-André Barriault, Abusupiyan Magomedov and Israel Adesanya
  • UFC Honors Awards
    • 2022: Fan's Choice Debut of the Year Nominee vs. Alen Amedovski
    • 2025: President's Choice Performance of the Year Nominee vs. Abusupiyan Magomedov
• Art of War Cage Fighting
  • AOWCF Middleweight Championship (One time)
• Ring of Combat
  • ROC Middleweight Championship (One time)

• List of current UFC fighters

• List of male mixed martial artists

• Professional MMA record for Joe Pyfer from Sherdog

• Joe Pyfer at UFC