Nationally Ranked Vineland Fighter in Big Bout March 28

Joe Pyfer (nicknamed “Bodybagz”) is an American Ultimate Fight Club Championship (UFC) Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) middleweight fighter born in Vineland who will fight in the main event against former two-time UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya in the main event on March 28 at the Ultimate Fighting UFC Fight Night in Seattle.

According to the UFC web page, Pyfer is known for both his elite knockout power and his overcoming challenging, abusive, and often homeless upbringing.  Raised in Pittsgrove Township, he attended Arthur P. Schalick High School and started competing on the school’s wrestling team in 10th grade, where he was able to apply jiu jitsu and judo skills he learned as a child. 

In May 2018, he won his debut and then six more fights with a single loss, winning the AOWCF and ROC Middleweight Championship along the way. On July 26, 2022, he was given a UFC contract. Making his UFC debut, Pyfer faced Alen Amedovski on September 17, 2022 and won via technical knockout (TKO) in round one, as he also did the following April against Gerald Meerschaert.

Pyfer faced 10th-ranked Abdul Razak Alhassan on October 7, 2023 and won by way of technical submission in the second round after rendering Alhassan unconscious with an arm-triangle choke. Last October, in  his most recent fight and 15th victory, he won with a face crank submission in the second round. Pyfer’s record is a strong 15-3 with nine TKO’s and four submissions.

The March 28 event will be nationally televised and features 10 other bouts, including two between female MMA competitors.