Joe Pyfer
Active 2022–present · rated in 2 editions · peak overall 79.0
Scouting report
Punching power and first-round finishes made Joe "Bodybagz" Pyfer a fan favorite in the middleweight division. Born in Vineland, New Jersey and training out of Marathon MMA, Pyfer's offense is powered by an 88 Strength score and 85 Boxing punches, capable of stopping fights whenever he plants his feet.
Peak ratings
By edition
Joe Pyfer, from Pittsgrove to a Contender Series contract
Joe Pyfer grew up in Pittsgrove Township, New Jersey, and joined the wrestling team at Arthur P. Schalick High School in tenth grade, applying jiu-jitsu and judo he had learned as a kid. He made his pro debut in 2018 and won the Art of War and Ring of Combat middleweight titles. He lost his first Dana White's Contender Series fight in 2020, then won a contract there in 2022 by TKO over Ozzy Diaz.
Pyfer, rating by rating
Boxing. 85. He knocked out Marc-Andre Barriault in 2024 and stopped Alen Amedovski in his debut.
Kickboxing. 78. His finishing record leans toward punches over kicks.
Wrestling. 81. He wrestled in high school and he stopped Gerald Meerschaert in the first round in 2023.
BJJ. 76, tied for his lowest number. He submitted Abdul Razak Alhassan with an arm triangle in 2023, though.
Strength. 88, the top of the card. He has knocked out a number of opponents early.
Durability. 80. Jack Hermansson beat him on the scorecards in 2024, but he stayed in the fight.
Cardio. 76, tied for the lowest rating. Most of his wins end early, so the sample of long fights is small.
Fight IQ. 78. He grew from his first Contender Series loss into a win over Israel Adesanya in 2026.
Strength is the tool that finishes
Strength at 88 is his top rating. It shows up in first round knockouts of Amedovski and Barriault and in a TKO win over Gerald Meerschaert in 2023. Performance of the Night awards followed several of those finishes. He is a good pick for players who want early knockouts and can accept a fighter with a smaller sample of deep rounds.
Ground work and late rounds are less certain
BJJ and cardio tie at 76, the lowest numbers on the card. His 2024 loss to Hermansson went to the scorecards, and it showed the risk when a fight becomes a long, technical contest. If he cannot land a heavy shot early, a patient opponent can drag him into that kind of fight. Balance him with fighters who can hold up in later rounds.
Keep exploring
Closest middleweight profiles to Joe Pyfer, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Gregory Rodriguesbest boxing 86 · weakest cardio 76
- Dan Hendersonbest boxing 85 · weakest kickboxing 70
- Darren Tillbest boxing 87 · weakest bjj 72
- Francis Carmontbest strength 84 · weakest fight iq 74
- Middleweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Joe Pyfer's strongest attribute, Strength.
Draft Joe Pyfer into your build
Joe Pyfer enters the pool on any spin landing on middleweight between 2023 and present. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Joe Pyfer is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Joe Pyfer's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.