UFC fans weren’t thrilled with middleweight prospect Joe Pyfer’s performance in a win at UFC 316.
After months of waiting, Joe Pyfer and Kelvin Gastelum went at it in the Octagon at UFC 316. But despite some early explosive moments, UFC fans aren’t happy with how the three-round middleweight bout played out.
Pyfer and Gastelum were supposed to square off in March at UFC Mexico City, before Pyfer was forced to withdraw on hours’ notice due to an illness. The fight was then moved to high on the UFC 316 main card, behind the event’s two championship fights.
Pyfer made noise early with a thunderous right hand that dropped Gastelum in the opening minutes. But Pyfer wasn’t able to follow up the punch with additional threats, leaving Gastelum with time to recover.
Joe Pyfer’s UFC 316 win draws harsh criticism after sluggish performance
Pyfer’s output waned dramatically in Rounds 2 and 3, but landed some heavy shots in the second round to squeak out a closely-contested five minutes. Round 3 was a back-and-forth battle between Pyfer and Gastelum, with Pyfer throwing single shots instead of combinations.
After three rounds, Pyfer walked away with a unanimous decision win, but drew boos from the fans in attendance in Newark.
UFC fans didn’t hold back on Pyfer’s performance in their social media reactions.
“Joe won but that hype is fading. Only goes for the big shots & if he fights someone with height & power he’s losing. Joe ‘Excuses’ Pyfer,” one fan wrote on X.
“Bro didn’t throw anything significant after the first round,” another fan said.
“All that power for nothing.”
“Is this guy kinda unlikable or is that just me?”
“Joe Pyfer really ain’t all that.”
“Pyfer fought like a p—-.”
“He has power, but needs more tools.”
“Put him in the prelims. Dude had KG hurt many times and just sat behind one punch.”
“That was nowhere near great.”
“Worst fight I’ve seen in a long time. I can’t believe I waited for that s—.”
“Dude is such a loser.”
“When you put all your skill points into strength.”
“He’s terrible.”
Pyfer entered UFC 316 after almost a full year away from the cage, stemming from his UFC 303 knockout win over Marc-Andre Barriault. In his UFC 316 post-fight interview, Pyfer revealed he underwent significant back surgery in the lead-up to the Gastelum fight, which might’ve impacted his performance.
The Dana White’s Contender Series alum Pyfer is now 5-1 in his promotional tenure, with the lone defeat coming against Jack Hermansson by unanimous decision in February 2024.
Patchy Mix’s UFC debut fell well short of the mark at UFC 316
A fight before Pyfer and Gastelum entered the Octagon, UFC bantamweight contender Mario Bautista spoiled Patchy Mix’s promotional debut with a dominant victory. Mix looked stiff throughout the three-round fight, while Bautista overwhelmed Mix with his pace and pressure on the feet.
Mix was signed to the UFC earlier this year following a long tenure in Bellator. UFC 316 was Mix’s first defeat since Bellator 246 in 2020.
Kayla Harrison capped off her remarkable MMA career with a UFC bantamweight title win in the UFC 316 co-main event. She submitted Julianna Pena with a kimura in Round 2 to secure the UFC women’s bantamweight title.
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