Joe Pyfer shares injury update after UFC Seattle main event in which he fought without hand wraps

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Joe Pyfer showed up to the post-fight press conference in Seattle limping and wearing a brace on his right hand.

Saturday’s main event was Adesanya’s first fight since his loss to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 earlier this year. The former middleweight champion was hoping to get back into title contention with a win, but things didn’t go according to plan.

Adesanya started quickly and looked sharp early on, showing flashes of the form that made him champion. But as the fight went on, it was Pyfer who began to take control.

In the second round, Pyfer landed some heavy shots and then took Adesanya down before finishing the fight with strikes.

Joe Pyfer arrives at the press conference wearing a hand brace

After the fight, Pyfer spoke to reporters about his health and any injuries he might have picked up during the bout.

He took quite a few heavy calf kicks from Adesanya, which clearly affected him, as he was seen limping into the press room. Speaking about how he felt compared to his opponent, Pyfer said: “I think Izzy is walking away a lot less hurt than I am,”

Along with the calf issue, Pyfer also had a brace on his right hand. It’s something worth keeping an eye on in terms of recovery time. Throughout his time in the UFC, Pyfer has often chosen not to wrap his hands before fights – a decision that isn’t common but isn’t against any rules either.

While hand wraps are recommended for protection, fighters aren’t required to use them. On the topic of his hand injury, Pyfer added:

“As far as the hand, I don’t know (what I’ve done), I’m gonna go and get it checked out. I know I hit him in his dome piece and it hurt but it only takes one.”

Pyfer is interested in headlining the August UFC card in Philadelphia

There’s been some buzz that the UFC might be heading back to Philadelphia this August.

And with that, Pyfer has made it clear he’d like his next fight to take place at that event, even saying he’d love to headline the card.

“I will say this, I know there is a Philadelphia card in August, we’ve got a lot of homies up on the East Coast ready to rock for that… Yeah, maybe August. I would really, really like to headline that card.”

With his win over Adesanya, Pyfer will likely move into the top five of the division and could soon be in title contention with another victory.