Joe Pyfer claims he set the record for the most powerful punch at the UFC Performance Institute but has not been officially recognized, causing frustration ahead of his fight with Jack Hermansson at UFC Vegas 86.
Joe Pyfer’s got a bone to pick. He’s after some recognition, you see.
He’s been saying it loud and clear in interviews. Even on ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’ where he showed Rogan the video proof. Pyfer claims he’s got the most powerful punch at the UFC Performance Institute.
But, here’s the kicker. The official title of ‘world’s hardest puncher’ still eludes him. And it’s got him all riled up for his main event fight with Jack Hermansson at UFC Vegas 86 this Saturday.
Wednesday’s media day had him fuming. “This s*** pisses me off,” he vented. He’s hit the machine, the same one, with a 16-ounce glove. “For all these nerds out there that don’t understand science, I hit it with a 16-ounce glove,” he reiterated.
That means he didn’t even get to hit it as hard as he could. He had a big pad on. Yet, he broke the record with that big glove. Not once, but four or five times. And he did it in front of the operations guys.
A heavyweight from Brazil tried to match him. Couldn’t even come close. His coach gave it a shot. Didn’t come close. Brendan Allen’s coach, ‘Tuco,’ tried too. No luck. But, they still didn’t want to give it to him officially. “I don’t know why,” he grumbled.
The UFC PI’s record is in dispute. The punching machine has made headlines before. Like when former UFC heavyweight star Francis Ngannou was credited with setting the record.
Pyfer’s got no beef with Ngannou. He just wants the record set straight.
“And then everybody makes this narrative about talking about f****** oiling up Dana’s ass and s***,” Pyfer went on. He respects anyone who’s ever stepped in the cage. Who’s ever done anything to change their life. Like Charles Oliveira, Francis Ngannou, even his teammate Andre. They’ve all come from struggles to be something. But he’s discredited because he hits harder.
“S*** pisses me off. F*** those nerds, whoever told me that I didn’t get that f****** score,” he ranted. He’d do it again, even with a torn rotator cuff. He had to stop because he hurt himself. “F*** those nerds.”
Pyfer’s effectiveness inside the cage is undeniable. Eight of his 12 career wins have come by way of knockout. That includes the Contender Series win over Osman Diaz that got him his UFC contract. And two first-round knockouts of octagon opponents Gerald Meerschaert and Alen Amedovski.
He doesn’t expect his fight with Hermansson to go any differently.
“I think I knock Jack out,” Pyfer said. He’s studied Hermansson’s videos. He’s noticed Hermansson’s desperate and slow takedowns. He’s seen the big speed and boxing differential between them.
“We can have all these plans all we want,” he said. But when you’re in there, feeling the other person’s intention to hurt you, it can make or break you. He wants to hurt Hermansson. He’s ready to bang for 25 minutes. “So let’s go, brother, let’s rumble.”
You can watch Pyfer’s full scrum below, courtesy of MMA Mania.