Joe Pyfer’s latest victory was nothing short of emotional, and he immediately let the world know that it meant more than just the result.
Following his second-round TKO over Israel Adesanya in the UFC Fight Night 271 main event, Pyfer (16-3 MMA, 7-1 UFC) revealed he nearly took his own life in the lead-up to the bout at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.
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“It’s weird, DC. It’s like I could see this moment happening,” Pyfer said in his post-fight interview with Daniel Cormier. “I almost took my own life a couple weeks ago, and I found God.”
While Cormier moved to the next topic without asking anything further about the stunning revelation, Pyfer explained more during his post-fight news conference with credentialed media members backstage.
“I said it all week, and I think a lot of people dismissed it as I wouldn’t be able to go in there and still have this tenacity about me or this mean streak about me,” Pyfer said. “I was born a fighter. I was born into chaos in a messed-up family, as many children are. It’s not like mine is super special compared to anybody else’s. I was a victim of my own self-destruction. I had lust issues. I had just this toxic cycle of coping. (It was) nothing drug-related or anything like that. I had a dream where I was disgusted about who I was.”
While he did not go into great detail, Pyfer said emotions were triggered by an incident involving someone close to him, in which he had wronged that person. He’s confident whatever the wrongdoing was, he won’t make that same mistake again.
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“I broke a lot of people’s hearts around me, particularly one person that I will never hurt again,” Pyfer said. “Sh*t, man. I was just disgusted with myself. I went and got therapy. In this dream, I feel like God chose me and took my hand and gave me a restored life, a renewed life. The only thing I can say is that I feel all the pressure of the world is gone, all the expectations of the world are gone. I feel like a true, free person. This whole week has been beautiful with my team, the support, and my coaches. It’s just showing them that you can change, and you can be a better man, and God is real. Jesus is real. There are certain ways you are called to live, and those are the ways that I’ve followed and through my prayer, I was granted this victory. Because let me tell you: I’ve prayed probably 50 times this week. I was the most calm, happy, peaceful, appreciative person I’ve ever been in my life.”
Inside the cage, Pyfer picked up the biggest win of his career as he made relatively quick work of one of the sport’s all-time greats, Adesanya (24-6 MMA, 13-6 UFC). The finish started with a takedown. Pyfer’s jiu-jitsu skills then went to work, and his ground-and-pound followed all the way to the end.
“I took his back (in) a literal sequence that I had just started working,” Pyfer said. “I’ve always known that sequence and everything, but I literally worked it with one of the best grapplers in the world with Nicky Rodriguez, and Jonavin Webb. I’m very grateful for them, and I’m very grateful for Izzy, as well. I still think he’s the greatest middleweight of all time, and he’s a great man.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Seattle: Joe Pyfer explains what led to shocking revelation
