Joe Pyfer scored the biggest win of his UFC career by defeating Kelvin Gastelum via unanimous decision at UFC 316 in Newark on June, 2025. Pyfer set the tone early, dropping Gastelum twice in the first round with powerful right hooks and controlling much of the action with his striking. Despite Gastelum’s efforts to rally in the later rounds, Pyfer’s early dominance and consistent pressure secured him the judges’ favor, with scorecards reading 29-28, 29-27, and 30-27.
Gastelum, a former interim title challenger, struggled to recover from the early knockdowns but showed resilience as he tried to shift the momentum in the final round. However, Pyfer’s performance was enough to move him closer to a spot in the middleweight top, improving his UFC record to 5-1.
While some fans were underwhelmed by the lack of a finish after Pyfer’s explosive start, the victory marks an important step forward for the rising middleweight contender.
