“Almost Took My Own Life,” Joe Pyfer’s Emotional Interview After Beating Israel Adesanya Goes Viral

UFC middleweight Joe Pyfer reveals how he was struggling with mental health problems just a week before knocking out Israel Adesanya.

“Almost Took My Own Life,” Joe Pyfer’s Emotional Interview After Beating Israel Adesanya Goes Viral

Joe Pyfer talks about his mental health struggles (via talkSport)

In Short
  • Joe Pyfer knocked out Israel Adesanya, marking his fourth consecutive loss and becoming only the third fighter to do so in MMA.
  • Pyfer revealed he faced severe mental health struggles leading up to the fight, including thoughts of suicide.
  • The victory has propelled Pyfer into the top five of the middleweight rankings, opening new opportunities in his career.

Joe Pyfer entered the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle as a relatively lesser-known name, but left having reshaped his career in dramatic fashion. He handed Israel Adesanya a fourth straight loss and became only the third fighter to knock him out in MMA. However, the road to that victory moment was far from easy, as Pyfer revealed he had been battling a deeply troubling mental phase leading into the bout.

Many had viewed Pyfer as a redemption opportunity for Adesanya, who entered on a three-fight losing streak. However, from the opening bell, Pyfer looked composed, trading shots with the former champion. By midway through the second round, the Pennsylvania native secured a takedown, moved to full mount, and unleashed a barrage of punches as Adesanya lay flat, forcing Herb Dean to step in and stop the fight.

Heading into UFC Seattle, Pyfer was seen as a near-even underdog against Adesanya, who held far greater experience at the elite level. Pyfer stayed largely out of the spotlight during fight week, with minimal media presence and limited promotional push. After the knockout, he grew emotional in the cage, stating he had long envisioned the moment while still showing respect to the former champion.

It’s weird, it’s like I could see this moment happening, I almost took my own life a couple of weeks ago, and I found god. I ain’t crying, man, I’m going to keep it together. God restored me, that’s the only reason I’m here. I gave the glory to god. I know people are going to feel some type of way, (people) who don’t believe ,but I was in a very dark place six weeks ago. I want to celebrate with grace, with class. I love Israel, I respect Israel, and his family’s beautiful too. I want to be class act because to me he’s the greatest middleweight of all time.

Joe Pyfer via UFC Seattle Octagon interview

Pyfer’s mental struggles stemmed from a difficult upbringing, as he endured abuse during childhood and left home at a young age without stability. Those hardships followed him into adulthood, and a serious arm injury in 2020 further impacted his career and pushed him into depression. In recent times, he admitted to battling inner turmoil and dark thoughts leading into the fight against Israel Adesanya.

Before facing ‘Stylebender’, Pyfer had already built momentum with his well-rounded skill set and knockout power, entering UFC Seattle on a four-fight win streak. His most recent outing came at UFC 320, where he secured a rear-naked choke submission victory over Abus Magomedov. Notably, Pyfer has only one loss in his UFC run, which came against Jack Hermansson at UFC Vegas 86 in February 2024.

The win over Israel Adesanya came at a pivotal moment for both Joe Pyfer and the middleweight division, pushing ‘Bodybagz’ into the top five of the rankings at 185 pounds. He could be a strong matchup for Caio Borralho, who recently defeated Reinier de Ridder at UFC 326 in a statement performance. The UFC Seattle victory ultimately opened new doors for the Pennsylvania native moving forward in his career.

Joe Pyfer gets candid about the hardships he faced throughout his turbulent life

Joe Pyfer has consistently talked about the struggles he has faced since childhood, revealing on multiple occasions that he endured abuse and lived through poverty during his early years. He has explained how that environment shaped his mindset and negatively impacted his mental health over time. At the same time, those hardships have served as a major source of motivation throughout his UFC career.

Joe Pyfer out of UFC Mexico, bout canceled
Joe Pyfer (Source: IMAGO)

This journey has also resonated with Dana White, who publicly supported Pyfer during his early UFC run and even helped him secure stable housing. Pyfer was still widely underestimated heading into his clash with Israel Adesanya at UFC Seattle. After the knockout win, he shared details about his hardship-filled life and revealed that he has now embraced Christianity, marking a turning point in his personal journey.

I was born a fighter, I was born into chaos, and a messed-up family, as many children are. I was a victim of my own self-destruction. I had lust issues, I was stuck in a toxic cycle of coping nothing drug-related or anything like that but I had a dream where I felt disgusted by who I was. So, I went and got therapy done so I feel like god chose me, took my hand and gave me a restored life.

Joe Pyfer via UFC Seattle post fight press conference

A similar path can be seen in Sean Strickland, who has openly spoken about a troubled childhood and its lasting impact on his life and mindset over the years. He captured the middleweight title in 2023 and is now set to face Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 328 in another major opportunity. His journey could offer Joe Pyfer a blueprint as he continues to rise through the 185-pound division.

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