The middleweight division saw a decisive moment on Saturday night as Joe Pyfer showcased his power and grappling skills to defeat Abus Magomedov in their UFC 320 main card meeting inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Both fighters entered this matchup with solid momentum. Magomedov, holding a professional record of 28–6–1, had regained form after setbacks against Sean Strickland and Caio Borralho by collecting three straight victories. His most recent performance earned him a unanimous decision over Michel Pereira, bringing him back into the conversation at 185 pounds.
Across from him stood Pyfer, 14–3, who has been steadily rising since his Dana White’s Contender Series breakthrough in 2022. Known for his heavy hands and aggressive style, Pyfer recently notched wins over Kelvin Gastelum and Marc-André Barriault, setting up this clash as a test of who could make the next leap toward a ranked opponent.
Round 1
Referee Chris Tognoni oversaw the bout’s opening act. The first exchanges were cautious, with both men testing distance. Pyfer broke the silence about forty-five seconds in with a level change, but Magomedov stuffed the attempt and reversed the scramble, eventually finding top position after a trip attempt failed. From there, Magomedov worked from above, landing a sharp elbow while Pyfer maintained a closed guard to limit passing. Pyfer briefly threatened an armbar, but Magomedov escaped easily. A rare head-scissors attempt followed during a scramble, giving Magomedov side control. As they reset on the feet, Magomedov connected with a stiff jab to close out what was largely a control-heavy round in his favor.
Round 2
The tempo changed quickly. Pyfer came out pressing forward and abandoned the wrestling, swinging with purpose. A clean right hand landed, sending Magomedov to the canvas. Pyfer wasted no time, advancing into top control and threatening with an arm-triangle choke. He transitioned smoothly to full mount, then took Magomedov’s back as the veteran tried to buck free. With the body triangle secured, Pyfer patiently worked his hands under the chin. Once the grip locked, Magomedov had no escape. The tap came at 1:44 of Round 2, sealing Pyfer’s statement win.
This submission extends Joe Pyfer’s streak and further cements his reputation as one of the division’s most dangerous finishers. As the betting favorite at roughly 2-to-1, he delivered on expectations with a clean, decisive performance. Magomedov, the underdog at +172, showed flashes of control early but couldn’t withstand the momentum shift once Pyfer found his range.
With another finish added to his résumé, Pyfer could find himself matched against a ranked middleweight next, continuing his rapid climb toward title contention.
Joe Pyfer defeats Abus Magomedov by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2 at 1:44.
Watch the highlights below:
AN EARLY KNOCKDOWN IN ROUND 2 😤
[ #UFC320 LIVE ON @ESPN PPV | @Joe_Pyfer96 ] pic.twitter.com/dRniBuA2WD
— UFC (@ufc) October 5, 2025
HIS HANDS LEAD TO THE SUBMISSION 😮💨@Joe_Pyfer96 sinks in the rear naked choke to extend his win streak to 3!
[ #UFC320 | LIVE NOW on @ESPN PPV ] pic.twitter.com/xAOB7Xw0WD
— UFC (@ufc) October 5, 2025
