“Bodybagz” is a different man these days.
No. 14-ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight Joe Pyfer steps into the biggest fight of his career this weekend (Sat., March 28, 2026), when he faces former two-time champion Israel Adesanya in the main event of UFC Seattle inside Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.
But Pyfer says he’s entering the spotlight as a completely different person.
“I feel like I’ve had a complete resurgence — a full 180 — when it comes to my faith and God
and Jesus Christ,” Pyfer told Full Send MMA. “I had this out-of-body experience where I was able to see who I was, and I was pretty disappointed. I feel like God gave me direction and a chance to change my life. It’s the craziest presence I’ve ever felt.”
Pyfer credits much of that transformation to his longtime partner.
“Her name’s Ashlyn — she’s been my girlfriend for over six years,” Pyfer said. “Thinking about marriage, family, and putting God at the center of everything… that’s what I feel like my true legacy is. Before, I thought fighting was everything. I didn’t know who I was outside of it. If you took this away from me back then, I probably would’ve self-destructed.”
Throughout his time in the promotion, Pyfer developed a reputation for being intense and quick to snap — whether at opponents or fans. Now, he’s trying to leave that version of himself behind.
“I feel like if you’ve truly changed, you shouldn’t be afraid of people judging your past,” Pyfer said during UFC Seattle media day. “The change has come from within my soul, and it’s a beautiful thing. It sets a man free. I feel reborn. I used to be trapped by anxiety, addiction, and my own mind… but God restored my life. I don’t want to be a bad person anymore.”
Now, with a renewed mindset and a high-profile main event ahead of him, Pyfer will look to prove that his transformation extends beyond words — and into the Octagon.
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