Joe Pyfer violently returned to the win column at UFC 303 last month (June 29, 2024).
It was a good time to be Pyfer from 2022 to early 2024. The Dana White’s Contender Series alum had a famous quote coined for him by UFC’s boss, he lived up to the hype with great performances, but eventually came up short when given a ranked opponent.
The 27-year-old Middleweight prospect lost a five round unanimous decision against Jack Hermansson this past February. At UFC 303, Pyfer came back with a vengeance against Canada’s Marc-Andre Barriault, scoring the knockout at the 1:25 mark of round one (watch highlights). As great of a win as it was for “Bodybagz,” he couldn’t enjoy it after the reception his previous loss brought.
“There’s really no high from this one,” Pyfer said on The MMA Hour. “I don’t know what it is. I think I’m so disgusted with MMA fans that there’s really no joy in it for me now. I just feel like a lot of people are all fake now. So after getting sh*t on because I came up short in the decision, I just don’t have that — I don’t know. I’m just being honest, I don’t know.
Continuing, he expressed, “I had a conversation with my coach regarding this, as there is no greater thrill for me. I am filled with excitement and pride. It was an exceptional display of my abilities, and it resulted in the highest earnings I’ve ever had in my professional journey. This is what brings me immense joy.”
After defeating 13 opponents with only one match going the distance (13-3), Pyfer’s fight against Hermansson was deemed as a case of being pushed too quickly. Despite losing in the UFC, the Vineland, New Jersey native believes it is unjust to label him as a “fraud” based on just one defeat.
“I didn’t really appreciate it when everyone kept saying I underwent a fraud check,” Pyfer expressed. “I don’t believe that fighting the No. 10 ranked opponent in the world, in just my fourth UFC fight, while being unranked myself, and going five rounds with him, was a result of any fraudulent activity. Initially, I was performing better and displaying superior boxing skills until I couldn’t maintain the same intensity, ultimately getting hit in the eye and losing sight of my opponent for the remainder of the fight. I give him credit for causing damage with his legal shot. Additionally, he cleverly utilized his veteran experience to employ calf kicks. In the fifth round, the score was tied at 2-2, and I felt like I was gaining momentum, but he surprised me by taking me down. He changed his strategy.”
However, the main point I want to make is that everyone criticized and insulted me, claiming I was involved in fraud and mocking me as ‘salty man Joe’ and other derogatory things,” he continued. “I realized that it’s fair for them to say that because I put myself in a vulnerable position. It’s a lose-lose situation. I took a risk that wasn’t the wisest choice considering the circumstances, but I’m proud of my performance. I had to understand that hate is inevitable in this sport, regardless of how successful we become. If we don’t learn to disregard the opinions of irrelevant people, it will take a severe toll on our mental well-being.”
