The biggest MMA organisation makes its return to the Emerald City for an anticipated fight night in the Climate Pledge Arena.
In the last UFC event in Seattle, the headliner had an anticlimactic ending as Song Yadong won by unanimous decision (Technical) after three rounds with Henry Cejudo due to an accidental eye poke, which forced the ending.
This weekend, the main event features a former UFC Champion and a thriving prospect as Israel Adesanya takes on Joe Pyfer in a scheduled five-round middleweight bout.
Here is everything you need to know about the main attraction, as well as three battles worth watching at UFC Seattle.
The Last Stylebender in need of redemption
With only one victory in his last five fights, Adesanya’s downfall continues as his position in the 185-pound rankings could drop further if his losing streak extends.
The Nigerian-New Zealand mixed martial artist has three consecutive losses, all against Sean Strickland, Dricus Du Plessis, and Nassourdine Imavov.
The 36-year-old was last at the top of the middleweight division in 2023 when he avenged himself with a second-round knockout win over Alex Pereira at UFC 287.
This is arguably the worst position Adesanya has been in his Combat Sports career as in his Kickboxing days, he had never suffered more than two consecutive defeats.
‘The Last Stylebender’ has conquered some of the biggest names in the UFC, including Anderson Silva, Robert Whittaker, Yoel Romero, and Paulo Costa.
The last time we saw Adesanya as a contender ranked #4 or lower was at UFC 236, when he faced Kelvin Gastelum for the interim middleweight title, winning by unanimous decision in an unforgettable battle.
The former UFC Champion is all about defeating his opponents by knockout, as 16 of his 24 victories in MMA have ended by KO/TKO.
Retirement could be coming closer than Adesanya thinks, but if he can redeem himself in Seattle, then there is still hope for the fan-favourite.
A big opportunity arises for Pyfer
Compared to his opponent, Pyfer has been the opposite as he’s been counting multiple victories in the UFC, earning four wins in his last five bouts.
‘Bodybagz’ entered the middleweight rankings when he defeated Abus Magomedov by second-round submission at UFC 320, increasing his win streak to three.
The 29-year-old has already beaten recognisable veterans in his short stint with the organisation, including Gastelum, Marc-Andre Barriault and Gerald Meerschaert.
When the American last attempted to enter the 185-pound top 15, he lost by unanimous decision to Jack Hermansson at UFC Vegas 86, the only contest where he has gone five rounds.
The #14 contender arrived in the UFC after earning a contract through Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS) where he stopped Ozzy Diaz by second-round TKO.
The Vineland-born fighter has been known to be an explosive fighter with his powerful striking and aggressive grappling, often resulting in a finish in most of his clashes.
With 15 triumphs on his MMA record, the surging prospect has victoriously gone the distance twice while claiming nine KO/TKO wins and four submissions.
If Pyfer can get a victory over a former UFC Champion, it will boost him into the top five of the middleweight rankings and may put him one fight away from a possible title shot.
Three More Fights to focus on at UFC Seattle
Alexa Grasso vs Maycee Barber
A women’s flyweight battle features in the co-main event as two contenders in the top five of the rankings prepare to face off.
Grasso has not been victorious since her upset title win at UFC 285 where she defeated Valentina Shevchenko by fourth-round submission, since then, she has been winless in her last three contests.
After a longer layoff than anticipated, Barber returned at UFC 323, where she extended her seven-fight win streak, defeating Karin Silva by unanimous decision.
There is history behind this showdown as both female fighters fought each other before at UFC 258, where the Mexican triumphed.
Mansur Abdul-Malik vs Yousri Belgaroui
A middleweight clash was placed on the main card for a reason as two prospects go head-to-head, both with nine wins and seven knockouts.
Abdul-Malik last competed at UFC 323, where he submitted Antonio Trocoli in the first round to increase his unbeaten record in MMA.
Belgaroui made his debut at UFC Vancouver, where he stopped Azamat Bekoev by third-round TKO, extending his win streak to four.
It’s likely we may see a striking battle for potentially less than three rounds, but the American can land takedowns at any time so the Dutch fighter must be prepared.
Terrance McKinney vs Kyle Nelson
It’s USA vs Canada in what starts the main card of UFC Seattle as both lightweights search for their first triumph of the year.
McKinney is aiming to bounce back from defeat after losing his last fight to Chris Duncan by first-round submission at UFC 323, looking for another finish as he’s never gone to a decision.
Nelson already redeemed himself in his last bout at UFC Vancouver as he pulled off a comfortable unanimous decision win over Matt Frevola in his only fight of 2025.
This contest may not last long as ‘T. Wrecks’ is known for having one of the shortest average fight times in the UFC, but ‘The Monster’ may just change that.
