By Danjuma Amodu | March 29, 2026
Nigerian-born UFC star Israel Adesanya has suffered a fourth consecutive loss, marking the worst run of his professional MMA career. The former two-time middleweight champion was knocked out in the second round by Joe Pyfer during their bout in Washington on Saturday.
Adesanya started brightly, edging the opening round with flashes of his trademark striking. However, Pyfer capitalised on Adesanya’s aggressive push in the second round, landing heavy blows and securing a takedown. Referee Herb Dean stopped the fight with 42 seconds remaining in round two.
This defeat marks a stark contrast to Adesanya’s emphatic knockout victory over Alex Pereira at UFC 287 in April 2023. Since then, he has struggled to find form, losing to Sean Strickland, Dricus du Plessis, and Nassourdine Imavov. Adesanya’s future in the UFC now hangs in the balance as he faces an uncertain path forward.
The 29-year-old Pyfer dominated proceedings on the ground with a barrage of strikes, sending Adesanya to the canvas for the fourth time in his last five fights. With four straight losses, Adesanya now faces an uncertain future as questions mount over the next chapter of his once-dominant UFC career.
