# 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).

## Background

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.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Early career

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.

### 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.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

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 is scheduled to face Kelvin Gastelum on March 29, 2025 at UFC on ESPN 64.

## Professional grappling career

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.

## Championships and accomplishments
### Mixed martial arts

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

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 16 matches | 13 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 9 | 1 |
| By submission | 3 | 1 |
| By decision | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 13–3 | Marc-André Barriault | KO (punches) | UFC 303 | June 29, 2024 | 1 | 1:25 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 12–3 | Jack Hermansson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer | February 10, 2024 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 12–2 | Abdul Razak Alhassan | Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. Green | October 7, 2023 | 2 | 2:05 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 11–2 | Gerald Meerschaert | TKO (punches) | UFC 287 | April 8, 2023 | 1 | 3:15 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 10–2 | Alen Amedovski | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Song | September 17, 2022 | 1 | 3:55 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 9–2 | Osman Diaz | TKO (punches) | Dana White's Contender Series 47 | July 26, 2022 | 2 | 1:39 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 8–2 | Austin Trotman | KO (punch) | CFFC 104 | December 17, 2021 | 2 | 2:55 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Loss | 7–2 | Dustin Stoltzfus | TKO (elbow injury) | Dana White's Contender Series 28 | August 11, 2020 | 1 | 4:21 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 7–1 | Chase Gamble | TKO (punches) | Ring of Combat 71 | February 21, 2020 | 2 | 1:04 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Loss | 6–1 | Jhonoven Pati | Submission (guillotine choke) | Ring of Combat 70 | November 23, 2019 | 2 | 1:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Lost the ROC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 6–0 | Matt Foster | TKO (punches) | Ring of Combat 69 | September 13, 2019 | 1 | 1:07 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | Won the vacant ROC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 5–0 | Elijah Gbollie | KO (elbow and punch) | Ring of Combat 68 | May 31, 2019 | 2 | 1:36 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Eric Roncoroni | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Art of War Cage Fighting 11 | February 16, 2019 | 1 | 4:53 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | Won the vacant AOWCF Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 3–0 | Lorenzo Hunt | Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) | Art of War Cage Fighting 8 | October 5, 2018 | 1 | 3:47 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Derek Wilson | Decision (unanimous) | CES MMA 52 | August 17, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | Catchweight (190 lb) bout. |
| Win | 1–0 | Steven Covington | TKO (punches) | Art of War Cage Fighting 7 | May 18, 2018 | 1 | 2:40 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | Middleweight debut. |