Former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya is set to fight Joe Pyfer in the main event of UFC Seattle on March 28, following a series of losses, while Alexa Grasso will face Maycee Barber in the co-main event.
Former middleweight champ Israel Adesanya is stepping back into the octagon. He’s set to face Joe Pyfer in the main event at UFC Seattle on March 28, hosted at the Climate Pledge Arena.
UFC CEO Dana White spilled the beans about this exciting matchup on Tuesday. Adesanya, once a dominant force, has hit a rough patch with three consecutive losses.
After avenging a loss to Alex Pereira with a brutal knockout, Adesanya shockingly lost his title to Sean Strickland. He got an immediate shot against Dricus du Plessis, who had taken the belt from Strickland, but succumbed to a fourth-round submission.
His woes continued with a knockout loss to Nassourdine Imavov in February 2025. Now, Adesanya aims for redemption against Pyfer, who’s riding high on three straight victories.
Pyfer has been on a tear, defeating Marc-Andre Barriault, Kelvin Gastelum, and Abus Magomedov. With a 6-1 record in the UFC and five finishes, he’s a formidable opponent.
Dana White also confirmed a flyweight clash between former champ Alexa Grasso and Maycee Barber as the co-main event. The full card and bout order for UFC Seattle? Still under wraps. Stay tuned!