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By Joe Apu
Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya will once again take center stage as the Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Seattle, Washington, on March 28, marking the promotion’s second straight visit to the Emerald City.
The event, scheduled for the Climate Pledge Arena, will be broadcast on Paramount+ and is headlined by a pivotal 185-pound showdown between Adesanya and rising contender Joe Pyfer according to reports gathered from forbes.com.
For Adesanya (24-5), the Seattle card presents another opportunity to reaffirm his elite status in a division he once ruled with style and dominance.
Adesanya entered the UFC in 2018 with an unblemished 11-0 professional record, already boasting championship pedigree from Australia’s Hex Fight Series and AFC promotions. The Nigerian-born striker also carried a decorated kickboxing résumé, including two challenges for the Glory Middleweight title, before fully committing to mixed martial arts.
He wasted little time making an impact. A “Performance of the Night” knockout of Rob Wilkinson in his promotional debut signaled the arrival of a new star. Successive victories over Marvin Vettori and Brad Tavares propelled him into the division’s top tier, while a first-round TKO against Derek Brunson further solidified his contender status.
In February 2019, Adesanya faced former middleweight king Anderson Silva at UFC 234 in what proved to be his final non-title bout in the promotion. The decision victory marked the symbolic passing of the torch.
Adesanya captured interim gold later that year with a thrilling decision over Kelvin Gastelum before unifying the title in October 2019 with a knockout of Robert Whittaker. Successful defenses against Yoel Romero and Paulo Costa followed as he established himself as one of the sport’s premier champions.
Seeking double-champion status, Adesanya moved up to challenge light heavyweight titleholder Jan Blachowicz at UFC 259 but suffered his first professional defeat via decision.
He rebounded strongly, defending his middleweight crown against Vettori, Whittaker, and Jared Cannonier. However, a long-standing rivalry resurfaced when he faced former kickboxing nemesis Alex Pereira at UFC 281. Despite leading on the scorecards entering the fifth round, Adesanya was stopped late in the contest, surrendering his title in dramatic fashion.
Now, as the UFC returns to Seattle for only the second time since 2013, Adesanya stands at another defining moment. A victory over Pyfer would not only reassert his position among the middleweight elite but also reinforce his enduring star power in a division undergoing transition.
The March 28 main event is expected to draw significant attention, with 11 official bouts already confirmed for the fight card. Yet, as always, the spotlight belongs to “The Last Stylebender,” whose journey of redemption and reinvention continues inside the Octagon.
