Two-time UFC champ Adesanya has lost three straight bouts since his 2023 win over Alex Pereiera.
UFC is headed back to the Pacific Northwest with star power in tow.
UFC CEO Dana White announced Tuesday that former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya (24-5) will headline UFC Seattle in Climate Pledge Arena on March 28 against surging contender Joe Pyfer (15-3). The event also features a high-profile co-main event rematch, as former women's flyweight champion Alexa Grasso (16-5-1) meets Maycee Barber (15-2) for a second time.
For Adesanya, the booking represents another reset moment in a career defined by championship peaks. The longtime middleweight king reigned over the division for years with a precision-striking style that reshaped the weight class, compiling multiple title defenses and signature knockouts. However Adesanya has fallen on a downward slide of late, losing his last three bouts since he last held gold.
Pyfer has quickly emerged as one of the UFC’s most spotlighted middleweight prospects, pairing raw athleticism with finishing instincts and an increasingly confident cage presence. A main event against a global star like Adesanya fast-tracks him into the title conversation after three straight wins. If Pyfer can deliver the upset, it could instantly alter the middleweight championship picture.
The co-main event carries its own stakes and storyline. Grasso and Barber first met in 2021, with the matchup now resurfacing as both continue to push toward the championship at 125 pounds. Grasso’s technical polish and composure have made her one of the division’s most consistent performers, as seen in her win over Barber. Barber’s aggression and durability continue to fuel her rise, but she's refined her game since that loss and now rides a seven-fight win streak.
The current UFC Seattle fight lineup:
Middleweight: Israel Adesanya vs. Joe Pyfer
Women’s flyweight: Alexa Grasso vs. Maycee Barber
Heavyweight: Valter Walker vs. Marcin Tybura
Women’s flyweight: Casey O’Neill vs. Gabriella Fernandes
Women’s strawweight: Nicolle Caliari vs. Caroline Foro
Middleweight: Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Yousri Belgaroui
Featherweight: Zhu Kangjie vs. Márcio Barbosa
Category: General Sports
