The most important MMA organisation makes its return to the Emerald Metropolis for an anticipated combat night time within the Local weather Pledge Enviornment.
Within the final UFC occasion in Seattle, the headliner had an anticlimactic ending as Track Yadong gained by unanimous determination (Technical) after three rounds with Henry Cejudo as a consequence of an unintentional eye poke, which pressured the ending.
This weekend, the primary occasion encompasses a former UFC Champion and a thriving prospect as Israel Adesanya takes on Joe Pyfer in a scheduled five-round middleweight bout.
Right here is every thing it’s essential to learn about the primary attraction, in addition to three battles price watching at UFC Seattle.
The Final Stylebender in want of redemption
With just one victory in his final 5 fights, Adesanya’s downfall continues as his place within the 185-pound rankings may drop additional if his shedding streak extends.
The Nigerian-New Zealand blended martial artist has three consecutive losses, all in opposition to Sean Strickland, Dricus Du Plessis, and Nassourdine Imavov.
The 36-year-old was final on the prime of the middleweight division in 2023 when he avenged himself with a second-round knockout win over Alex Pereira at UFC 287.
That is arguably the worst place Adesanya has been in his Fight Sports activities profession as in his Kickboxing days, he had by no means suffered greater than two consecutive defeats.
‘The Final Stylebender’ has conquered among the largest names within the UFC, together with Anderson Silva, Robert Whittaker, Yoel Romero, and Paulo Costa.
The final time we noticed Adesanya as a contender ranked #4 or decrease was at UFC 236, when he confronted Kelvin Gastelum for the interim middleweight title, profitable by unanimous determination in an unforgettable battle.
The previous UFC Champion is all about defeating his opponents by knockout, as 16 of his 24 victories in MMA have ended by KO/TKO.
Retirement may very well be coming nearer than Adesanya thinks, but when he can redeem himself in Seattle, then there may be nonetheless hope for the fan-favourite.
An enormous alternative arises for Pyfer
In comparison with his opponent, Pyfer has been the alternative as he’s been counting a number of victories within the UFC, incomes 4 wins in his final 5 bouts.
‘Bodybagz’ entered the middleweight rankings when he defeated Abus Magomedov by second-round submission at UFC 320, growing his win streak to 3.
The 29-year-old has already crushed recognisable veterans in his brief stint with the organisation, together with Gastelum, Marc-Andre Barriault and Gerald Meerschaert.
When the American final tried to enter the 185-pound prime 15, he misplaced by unanimous determination to Jack Hermansson at UFC Vegas 86, the one contest the place he has gone 5 rounds.
The #14 contender arrived within the UFC after incomes a contract via Dana White’s Contender Sequence (DWCS) the place he stopped Ozzy Diaz by second-round TKO.
The Vineland-born fighter has been identified to be an explosive fighter along with his highly effective placing and aggressive grappling, typically leading to a end in most of his clashes.
With 15 triumphs on his MMA file, the surging prospect has victoriously gone the space twice whereas claiming 9 KO/TKO wins and 4 submissions.
If Pyfer can get a victory over a former UFC Champion, it would enhance him into the highest 5 of the middleweight rankings and will put him one combat away from a doable title shot.
Three Extra Fights to give attention to at UFC Seattle
Alexa Grasso vs Maycee Barber
A ladies’s flyweight battle options within the co-main occasion as two contenders within the prime 5 of the rankings put together to face off.
Grasso has not been victorious since her upset title win at UFC 285 the place she defeated Valentina Shevchenko by fourth-round submission, since then, she has been winless in her final three contests.
After an extended layoff than anticipated, Barber returned at UFC 323, the place she prolonged her seven-fight win streak, defeating Karin Silva by unanimous determination.
There’s historical past behind this showdown as each feminine fighters fought one another earlier than at UFC 258, the place the Mexican triumphed.
Mansur Abdul-Malik vs Yousri Belgaroui
A middleweight conflict was positioned on the primary card for a cause as two prospects go head-to-head, each with 9 wins and 7 knockouts.
Abdul-Malik final competed at UFC 323, the place he submitted Antonio Trocoli within the first spherical to extend his unbeaten file in MMA.
Belgaroui made his debut at UFC Vancouver, the place he stopped Azamat Bekoev by third-round TKO, extending his win streak to 4.
It’s seemingly we may even see a placing battle for probably lower than three rounds, however the American can land takedowns at any time so the Dutch fighter have to be ready.
Terrance McKinney vs Kyle Nelson
It’s USA vs Canada in what begins the primary card of UFC Seattle as each lightweights seek for their first triumph of the 12 months.
McKinney is aiming to bounce again from defeat after shedding his final combat to Chris Duncan by first-round submission at UFC 323, searching for one other end as he’s by no means gone to a call.
Nelson already redeemed himself in his final bout at UFC Vancouver as he pulled off a snug unanimous determination win over Matt Frevola in his solely combat of 2025.
This contest could not final lengthy as ‘T. Wrecks’ is thought for having one of many shortest common combat instances within the UFC, however ‘The Monster’ may change that.
