Joe Pyfer’s win over Israel Adesanya at UFC Seattle was the most important results of his profession, however the submit‑battle story has been dominated by the middleweight’s resolution to put out the darkest stretch of his private life.
In latest interviews, Pyfer has described a interval marked by “lust points,” relationship injury, and suicidal ideas, saying guilt over how he handled his lengthy‑time period companion pushed him towards remedy and a renewed concentrate on religion.
Joe Pyfer On Dishonest, Guilt And Why He Wished To Finish It All
Talking on the submit‑battle press convention in Seattle, Pyfer mentioned he had been “a sufferer of my very own self‑destruction” and caught in “a poisonous cycle of coping,” stressing that his issues had been tied to how he behaved in his personal life. He cheated on his companion of six years, then acquired suicidal.
He defined {that a} vivid dream round six weeks earlier than the battle left him “disgusted” with himself and the best way he had “broke lots of people’s hearts” round him, “notably one person who I’ll by no means harm once more.” That individual is his companion Ashlyn, whom he has publicly recognized as his girlfriend of greater than six years and the lady he now says he needs to marry.
Pyfer admitted he had cheated on his girlfriend and mentioned this was why he was suicidal. Social clips and fan dialogue on-line have echoed that framing, with some posts accusing him of being caught dishonest after which in search of redemption by way of faith and public sympathy. Pyfer himself has used cautious language in official UFC settings, specializing in “lust points,” guilt, and heartbreak with out spelling out each element of what occurred inside the connection.
The emotional weight of that story hit UFC president Dana White laborious. Video and studies from battle night time present White reacting backstage after being advised that Pyfer had “tried to take his personal life” a matter of weeks earlier than the bout, calling the state of affairs “unlucky to listen to” and looking out visibly shaken. Within the cage, Pyfer devoted the win to Ashlyn, talked about wanting to construct a household together with her, and later advised reporters that desirous about marriage, kids, and “God on the heart of all the things” has change into extra vital to him than preventing itself.
Pyfer says that shift has included remedy, each day or close to‑each day engagement with the Bible, and a transfer away from what he calls a “lukewarm” method to his religion. He has began utilizing his platform to induce followers in related darkish locations to hunt assist.
