Nigerian born UFC star Israel Adesanya has suffered another major setback in his career after losing his fourth consecutive fight in the promotion.
The former two time middleweight champion was defeated by rising contender Joe Pyfer during their bout in Washington on Saturday night, March 28, with the fight ending in a second round knockout.
Adesanya started the fight on a strong note and was widely seen as the better fighter in the opening round. However, the momentum shifted in the second round when he pushed forward in search of a finish.
Pyfer responded with powerful strikes that changed the direction of the fight, landing heavy blows that forced a stoppage. He later secured control on the ground and delivered multiple unanswered strikes.
Referee Herb Dean stepped in to stop the contest with just 42 seconds remaining in the second round.
The loss extends a difficult run for Adesanya, who was once regarded as one of the top fighters in the division following his knockout victory over Alex Pereira in 2023.
Since that win, the Nigerian fighter has faced a series of defeats. He lost his title to Sean Strickland by unanimous decision, before suffering a submission defeat to Dricus du Plessis in 2024.
His struggles continued in 2025 when Nassourdine Imavov stopped him in the first round, raising questions about his future in the sport.
The latest defeat has intensified discussions about Adesanya’s next move, as fans and analysts assess the future of one of UFC’s most prominent fighters.
