UFC Vegas 86, The Morning After: Joe Pyfer’s premature rush to the top backfires inside empty Apex

FRAUD CHECK!

Any time a hyped prospect or heavy favourite comes up quick in a high-profile spot, “FRAUD CHECK” is the rapid cry on social media from each fan whose betting slip got here up empty. The defeated fighter was not bested by a greater opponent with an excellent gameplan.

No, they had been simply by no means any good within the first place — they’re FRAUDS!

Such would be the narrative for a lot of after Joe Pyfer’s unanimous choice loss to Jack Hermansson final evening (Sat. Feb. 10, 2024) in the primary occasion of UFC Vegas 86. Pyfer began robust, displaying off his ferocious energy and placing Hermansson on the defensive. As that energy waned a bit by the third, nonetheless, Pyfer didn’t have any actual reply for the jab and calf kick of the veteran.

The issue is that we actually shouldn’t have anticipated him to have all of the solutions this early in his MMA and UFC profession. For each Chris Weidman who wins the undisputed belt at 10-0, there are dozens of Joe Pyfers nonetheless studying important classes of their fifteenth skilled combat.

Early on, Pyfer demonstrated why he’s a particular expertise, a prospect of excessive regard. I’ve no means of confirming that Pyfer truly hits as laborious as Francis Ngannou, however I can verify that his opponents react equally. Keep in mind how Ngannou punched Junior dos Santos so laborious that the Brazilian turned his again and tried to run away? Pyfer’s punches draw equally odd reactions from his opponents, like when a really acutely aware Gerald Meerschaert coated up and accepted defeat after taking one large mixture (watch it right here).

Meerschaert is a tricky, powerful man with only a few knockout losses on his report, however he tasted uncommon energy and didn’t know methods to deal with it. Pyfer has that reward, plus he throws smarter mixtures than the typical Middleweight.

The 27-year-old doesn’t suck.

The issue is that he wasn’t prepared for Hermansson — veteran of 32 skilled fights — 17 UFC bouts, and 5 UFC important occasions. Hermansson knew precisely methods to climate the early storm of Pyfer’s energy, and he understood properly that Pyfer would decelerate after throwing a lot warmth. He additionally knew methods to benefit from Pyfer’s defensive weaknesses, which had been on show in his earlier Octagon bout in opposition to Abdul Razak Alhassan.

The straightforward fact right here is that Alhassan will not be a very good Middleweight (he’s 2-3 since shifting as much as 185-pounds), but he gave Pyfer a whole lot of hassle. “Bodybagz” by no means rocked him with punches, and Alhassan’s calf kick was doing a whole lot of harm. Pyfer was capable of bail himself out by working via an athletic double into an prompt submission, however that choice wasn’t at all times going to be there, particularly since hanging is his most popular method to fight.

Typically, younger fighters present a flaw then instantly appropriate it. Referring again to Weidman, he bought his leg kicked to items within the first combat with Anderson Silva however lower than six months later was capable of break Silva’s shin with a checked kick. The problem is that these fighters are wildly uncommon and shouldn’t be checked out because the norm.

Pyfer — well-coached and gifted prospect that he’s — did certainly present some improved calf kick protection … for a couple of spherical. Then, his toes slowed a bit of, some jabs blinded him, and previous habits emerged — completely typical for a younger fighter.

The silver lining right here is that UFC important occasion standing doesn’t imply what it as soon as did. No person was in attendance to look at Jack Hermansson “fraud test” Joe Pyfer. UFC CEO, Dana White, attracted extra followers and celebrities to the weekend’s Energy Slap CTE Pageant than the precise fights, so at the least a hype practice crashed and burned with comparatively few spectators.

More than likely, Pyfer might be again in the identical empty warehouse throughout the subsequent six months, rebounding and constructing expertise in opposition to unranked opposition as is required. His ceiling remains to be fairly excessive, however that potential assumes he’s given an inexpensive path to develop his abilities.

For full UFC Vegas 86: “Hermansson vs. Pyfer” outcomes and play-by-play, click on HERE.