Israel Adesanya returns to action against Joe Pyfer in the main event of UFC Fight Night 271 on March 28 at Climate Pledge Arena.
The former two-time middleweight champion enters the bout after a 13-month layoff, looking to end a three-fight skid.
Adesanya’s recent losses came against Sean Strickland, Dricus du Plessis and Nassourdine Imavov, all of whom found success in stand-up exchanges.
The run followed a period where Adesanya held the title and defended it multiple times against top contenders in the division.
Before those setbacks, Adesanya reached the limelight following his decision win over Anderson Silva in 2019 before claiming the interim title against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236.
That fight saw him use his jab, leg kicks and movement across five rounds to control the contest.
Adesanya went on to defend the belt five times, including a decision win over Jared Cannonier at UFC 276. He later regained the title with a knockout of Alex Pereira at UFC 287, landing a right hand in the second round.
Since then, results have not been consistent, with opponents finding openings in exchanges that had previously been controlled by Adesanya.
At 36, he has taken time away from competition, training with City Kickboxing while also stepping outside the sport during his break.
Pyfer enters with a 15-3 record and a run of three consecutive wins. His recent results include a first-round knockout of Marc Andre, a decision win over Kevin Gastelum, and a submission victory against Abusupiyan Magomedov.
The 29-year-old has built his record on finishing with style, with most of his wins coming inside the distance.
However, previous fights have raised questions around his endurance over longer rounds, particularly in five-round contests.
A win for Adesanya would move him back into the middleweight title picture and might make him consider extending his career, as critics predict a loss might signal his retirement.
For Pyfer, he has the chance to secure the biggest result of his career, which could see him in contention for a title fight after.
