SUMMARY
- Joe Pyfer is all set to headline UFC Vegas 86, taking on Jack Hermansson.
- Dana White helped Joe Pyfer by paying his rent for an entire year.
Joe Pyfer is a much-talked-about name in the UFC right now. Surging through the middleweight division, Pyfer has raised eyebrows with his performances in the UFC. However, despite his successes, many may not be aware of the hardships that he has faced.
For those unaware, ‘Bodybagz‘ is an unbeaten UFC prospect who has set his division ablaze. Making short work of some experienced names, Pyfer has garnered a lot of attention. As such, he is all set to headline UFC Vegas 86, taking on Jack Hermansson for a shot at breaking into the rankings. Now 3-0 in the UFC, he has undoubtedly come a long way from where he began.
For the most part, the talk about Pyfer mostly stems from his performances but also from his stats. Notably, it was revealed by Joe Rogan and UFC welterweight Sean Brady that Joe had apparently broken Francis Ngannou’s punch record. Despite repeating the feat, many refused to believe that he was capable of doing so. On a separate note, the fighter has had to overcome a lot of hardships to get where he is today.
Dana White paid Joe Pyfer’s rent for an entire year
Previously, Joe made his way into the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series. Notably, Joe was able to do so at the second time of asking, having suffered a horrific elbow injury against Dustin Stoltzfus the first time around. However, the Pennslyvania native delivered on his chance, dropping Ozzy Diaz with a clean left hook, followed by some nasty ground and pounding to punch his ticket to the UFC.
Following the win, Joe had a conversation with Dana White, thanking him for the opportunity. However, he also admitted to the UFC boss, that he was getting evicted from his place soon. Without a moment’s hesitation, Dana handed the fighter a wad of cash and promised to give him more afterward. Notably, this was on top of Pyfer’s earnings for the fight, and he was very grateful for the gesture.
When asked about it in the post-fight presser, White stated, “Joe Pyfer, when I left the press conference that night, told me that he was about to be homeless. So — that ain’t gonna happen.” Having fought on Tuesday, Pyfer returned on Wednesday and was able to move into his new residence by Thursday. Moreover, he was also given tickets and flown out for UFC 277 that very weekend.
Joe Pyfer parents: The tragic story of his childhood
For the most part, many may be wondering why Joe Pyfer is getting such preferential treatment. However, considering his performance and his conditions at the time, many will agree that Dana’s actions were justified. At the same time, Joe has continued his good work, training diligently at Marquez MMA.
Owing to his recent rise, Pyfer has also opened up about the ugly side of his career. Following his win over Gerald Meerschaert at UFC 287, the prospect revealed how he had been fighting since he was 4 and a half years old. Further inspection of the matter revealed that the 27-year-old suffered a lot of abuse as a child. Speaking on Joe Rogan’s podcast and on The MMA Hour, the fighter revealed how his father would mercilessly beat him up.
Speaking to Rogan, Pyfer revealed, “The beatings, man, I swear to God, he used to beat me up just to prove that he could beat me and show his girl that he was tough.” With his parents getting divorced when he was 15, Joe was forced to live with his father. Eventually, the beatings got too much for him, and he left home after an altercation with his father. Thus, it had been a few long years before Pyfer was eventually able to find some stability in his life.