UFC middleweight contender Joe Pyfer is preparing for the biggest match of his career against Israel Adesanya on March 28th in Seattle. However, the lead-up has been filled with controversy and candid commentary about his opponent’s persona.
During a recent appearance on the Overdogs podcast with hosts Mike Perry and Joaquin Buckley, Pyfer didn’t hold back when discussing Adesanya’s flamboyant personality.
The conversation took a sharp turn when Buckley jokingly referenced Adesanya being “part of the community,” alluding to the former middleweight champion’s colorful self-expression and fashion choices.
Pyfer acknowledged the elephant in the room while maintaining respect for his upcoming opponent. “I have nothing but respect for Izzy. I think he’s a great dude. We’ve seen each other a bunch of times,” Pyfer said.
However, he made it clear that personal style preferences wouldn’t affect his approach to the matchup. “I don’t know what you’re talking about as far as the community if that’s the reason. But yeah, I don’t think a man should paint his fingernails,” he stated bluntly when the topic arose.
The Philadelphia native discussed how the match came together, revealing he was initially offered a matchup with Paulo Costa before the UFC presented him with the Adesanya opportunity. “This is a win-win. It doesn’t matter. If I lose, he’s one of the best in the world. If I win, I beat one of the best in the world,” Pyfer explained.
Pyfer showed confidence despite Adesanya’s status as arguably the greatest middleweight of all time. “I expect the best version of him. I think the pressure is off of him worrying about a belt or him worrying about what anybody else has got to say,” he said.
During the conversation, Pyfer also expressed frustration about what he perceives as a cultural shift affecting American competitors. He said, “The trans s**t bro. All the crap that’s going on in the world raising soft men, it’s just f**king wrong. It’s not right.” He suggested that American masculinity has been compromised in ways that benefit international competitors.
Buckley chimed in with his own history with Adesanya, recounting a backstage encounter where he complimented the former champion by saying they would have made a great matchup stylistically.
According to Buckley, Adesanya later mocked him online after his loss to Kamaru Usman, which left a sour taste.
Despite the pre-bout commentary about personalities and cultural differences, Pyfer emphasized his focus remains on preparation. “I’m going to train for the best Israel Adesanya. I don’t want to go out there and be made a fool,” he declared, adding that he plans to be “the first to finish him in a dominating fashion.”
The March 28th showdown in Seattle represents a career-defining moment for Pyfer, who believes a knockout victory over Adesanya could put him in immediate title contention, potentially even earning him a spot on the historic White House card being planned for later this year.
