- Joe Pyfer is thankful for Dana White’s touching gesture
- The UFC debutant took a dig at Dana’s critics in his post-fight presser
After impressing at Dana White’s Contender Series in July, middleweight fighter Joe Pyfer made his UFC debut at UFC Vegas 60 this past weekend. The 26-year-old did not fail to deliver as he finished his opponent Alen Amedovski in the very first round via TKO.
In his octagon interview after the win, Pyfer thanked UFC president Dana White for helping him get through even with his financial challenges.
Joe is touched
Speaking to Daniel Cormier after the fight, “Bodybagz” said:
“I believe in good people Daniel. I’m not gonna cry but I’m so fortunate to be here man. Sleeping on a park bench, running away from home, from abuse to being here. This is something I’ve been watching since four-and-a-half years old and doing, so, I’m in love with the game baby, lets go!”
“I just want to give a shout out real quick,” he continued. “Thank you to Dana White, that man gave me cash on the side and gave me a place to live for the next year.
What a birthday present
Indeed, it was a special moment for Pyfer as his UFC debut victory happened on the day of his birthday. Pleased with his impressive TKO win, Pyfer called the UFC out to hand him a “$50K bonus.”
“It’s my birthday today, I’m 26 six years old, I want that 50k bonus, because I’m the birthday boy, let’s go!” Pyfer added.
Pyfer got his wish granted as he and Damon Jackson both earned a $50k “Performance of the Night” bonus.
Be. Joe. Pyfer 👊
[ @Joe_Pyfer96 | #UFCVegas60 ] pic.twitter.com/9LfHQM717D
— UFC (@ufc) September 18, 2022
Loyal to his boss
In his post-fight presser, Pyfer went on and revealed that he asked to speak with White to personally thank his “boss.” The UFC debutant then defended White against his critics in the sport.
“I asked Sean Shelby in the cage, let me talk to my boss,” Pyfer told reporters. “I told him that I need to talk to him because I need to thank him because he gave me home for a year. He gave me money on the side of contender and really that secured me being able to have a place to live for the next year.“
“I think the guy gets s**t on a lot for not being a good dude and whatever bulls**t people say sometimes but as far as he has treated me, he’s treated me gracefully, he’s my boss,” he added. “I wanna like him, I wanna respect him and I have all the respect in the world for him, so for me it means something to go and shake my boss’s hand after I go and I work for him.”
The current middleweight division is stacked with talented fighters. Can Pyfer keep the same energy when he faces tougher 185-pounders? Let’s wait and see.
