Joe Pyfer is back this weekend and faces his biggest challenge yet in Jack Hermansson at UFC Vegas 86. Pyfer has been widely touted as a hot prospect at middleweight and it’s easy to see why. It’s still early days, but does the 27-year-old have what it takes to dominate the middleweight division? Let’s evaluate his chances.
UFC Vegas 86: Joe Pyfer vs Jack Hermansson
At this point in his career, the fight against Hermansson is the ultimate test for Pyfer. UFC veteran Hermansson has been fighting in the promotion since 2016. He has wins over the likes of Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza, Kelvin Gastelum and Chris Curtis, and he has a nice collection of knockouts and submissions on his record.
The step up in competition won’t phase Pyfer though. He will take confidence from the fact that he is the man of the moment and he will feel like he has the advantage over Hermansson’s awkward style. We could see a lot of striking in this one, but both men are capable of getting the fight to the ground. We have seen Pyfer effortlessly slam opponents to the canvas and it is likely he will try this with Hermansson at some point.
Hermansson has a good ground game though and Pyfer will need to be especially wary of the 35-year-old’s ground and pound if he ends up in top position. Pyfer is dangerous on the ground too and his arm triangle submission over Abdul Razak Alhassan is proof of that.
Pyfer looks to have the basics down to a tee. His fundamental skillset is strong especially when throwing jabs, crosses and hooks. His kicking game was on point in his last fight against Alhassan too. Pyfer’s takedowns are explosive and effective, and he has lots of power.
A win over Hermansson will propel Pyfer into the rankings and close to the top 10. If he can get it done at UFC Vegas 86, it will prove he is ready.
Prediction: Pyfer by TKO.
Chances at Middleweight
Pyfer has 12 wins on his record and 11 of those are finishes. ‘Bodybagz’ has shown dominance in his UFC career so far and the potential is there for this to continue. His power and large frame are going to be a problem for many opponents, and I don’t believe it will be long before he is fighting the very top guys.
Pyfer is calculated, patient and fights well on the front foot. We need to see a lot more of him to figure out how good he really is, but the fight against Hermansson is a great opportunity for him to get a big win over a well-known opponent.
If he continues to grow his already impressive skillset, expect to see Pyfer assert dominance over the middleweight division in the future.
