Adesanya vs Pyfer prediction for UFC Fight Night 271

By Klimentijs Konevs | Published: March 27, 2026, 10:00 AM

UFC Fight Night 271 takes place in Seattle on March 29, with the action set to take place at the Climate Pledge Arena in Washington. The main event features a middleweight clash between Israel Adesanya and Joe Pyfer.

Adesanya comes into this bout on a tough 0-3 run and will be eager to prove he still belongs among the division's top five contenders. Pyfer is heading in the opposite direction, riding a three-fight winning streak and building serious momentum as a young, hungry challenger. Read this Adesanya vs Pyfer prediction to learn the latest odds, assess both fighters' recent form, and see our betting pick for this fight.

The Last Stylebender initially opened as an underdog at around 2.00 on bet365, but the odds have since flipped in his favour. He now comes in as the favourite at 1.71, while Pyfer is priced at 2.20.

Adesanya holds a clear physical advantage in this matchup, with a noticeable edge in both height and reach. His switch stance has long been one of his biggest weapons, making him unpredictable and difficult to time on the feet. Meanwhile, Pyfer is the younger fighter, bringing more freshness and potential durability.

Adesanya built one of the most dominant runs in UFC history through elite fight IQ and a brilliant kickboxing background. He cleared out the middleweight division and stayed active as the champion. Even after an unsuccessful move up to light heavyweight against Jan Błachowicz, he returned to 185 lbs and picked up several more strong wins.

However, MMA can be unforgiving, and any story can end quickly. Adesanya now finds himself on a three-fight losing streak, with his recent knockout defeat to Nassourdine Imavov raising concerns. He didn't take much damage in the opening round, even looking like a superior side. However, he got dropped by a single clean shot early in the second.

Despite that, he remains the No.4-ranked middleweight. This will be his first fight in years against an opponent outside of the top 10. Another loss could realistically make him hang up the gloves and retire, but Izzy doesn’t look like a guy who is ready to quit just yet. “Look at the middleweight division. The last active champion was me, the last guy who put it on the line every time and called out the best was me. Now this game is slow, stuck without me’", said Adesanya in an interview to ESPN MMA this week.

Adesanya's last fights

Pyfer sees this fight as a huge opportunity, as beating a name like Adesanya would instantly push him into the top tier of the division. He is young and hungry, carrying serious one-shot knockout power that makes him dangerous at all times.

Bodybagz did suffer a decision loss to Jack Hermansson in 2024. That fight exposed some cardio issues due to his explosive style. Still, that result looks a bit unusual in hindsight, especially considering Hermansson was knocked out cold twice after that win.

He can finish the fight in more ways than one 😤

Joe Pyfer looks to pass his biggest test yet at #UFCSeattle!

[ MAR 28 | 8pmET on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/kdHQSLuWG4

— UFC (@ufc) March 23, 2026

Since his last loss, Pyfer has bounced back with three impressive victories. The pressure he applies could be very difficult for Adesanya to manage over the course of the fight. On top of that, Pyfer comes in with far greater motivation and something to prove. This is his moment to break into the elite.

Pyfer's last fights

Adesanya has taken a year off to recover both mentally and physically, while Pyfer has stayed active, fighting twice during that same period. The Last Stylebender is effectively putting his career on the line here by accepting a bout against a dangerous, rising contender who has everything to gain.

At this stage, it feels like Adesanya's time at the top may be coming to an end. Pyfer needs this win far more, and his relentless pressure could eventually break the former champion. With the power he carries, a knockout would not be a surprise. However, from a betting perspective, we'll take the safer route given the odds. Pyfer to win.

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