UFC Vegas 86 Preview (Hermansson vs. Pyfer)
The UFC is heading back to The Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday February 10 for UFC Vegas 86. The main event will be in the middleweight division between #11 Jack Hermansson vs. surging prospect Joe Pyfer.
Hermansson is trying to rebound from a TKO loss to Roman Dolidze in 2022. The longtime top 10 middleweight contender is 3-4 in his last seven fights. Prior to the inconsistency he was on a four-fight winning streak and was in the conversation to challenge for the title. He must now find a way to rebound against a fighter on the rise.
The Swedish fighter talked about taking a fight with an unranked opponent. “I didn’t think too much about it because I was notified that it was gonna be a main event, as well, and that was kind of what was exciting about the fight for me; it didn’t matter that it was an up-and-comer,” Hermansson said. “I accepted the fight and I had him fresh in mind because I watched his fight with Abdul Razak Alhassan, so I knew who he was.
“But yeah — I accepted the fight and then I started to study Joe Pyfer.”
Hermansson’s critics are saying it is now or never if he wants to go on one last title run. The 35-year-old responded. “I just want to be able to push it as far as I can,” he said when asked about his goals and focus as a veteran in the sport coming off an extended stay on the sidelines. “I really enjoy this lifestyle and I love the sport of MMA, and I still feel like I have more to bring to the sport. Obviously, I have a dream, as many other fighters, of winning the UFC title.”
He continued, “With the ups and downs that I’ve had recently, I kind of shoved that a little to the side and am just focusing on the next fight. If I can come back with a win streak, I’m definitely keeping my eyes on that dream again. Right now, I’m just taking it one fight at a time, but I still have great ambitions and I feel like I still have a lot to do in the sport.”
Despite being underdog in this fight, Hermansson should not be slept on. “I just need to show everybody that it’s not that easy,” he said calmly. “I’m one of the best in the division, and it’s not gonna be easy for him to go in there with me.”
Hermansson made his UFC debut in 2016 and overall he is 10-6 with key wins over Chris Curtis, Edmen Shahbazyan, Kelvin Gastelum, Ronaoldo Souza and David Branch. A win over Pyfer will remind the middleweight division how dangerous he can be.
Pyfer’s rise started on Dana White’s contender series. Since then, he has won three straight fights all by impressive finishes. He most recently defeated Abdul Razak Alhassan by second round submission in October.
Pundits have questioned whether Pyfer is ready for a headlining spot so soon in his UFC career. “I wouldn’t describe it as being thrusted into a spot,” Pyfer said. “I think I’ve earned this spot. I’ve finished three fights, I’ve made sure I’m exciting, I say what I’m going to do, I go out there, and I back it up. I think I’m a draw – I’m becoming a draw, anyway. I think I’m a trending superstar, and I think if everything goes as I expect it to Saturday, I think I’m on that superstar level. On the way to that level.
“I deserve the fast track. I have a story, I have the charisma, I know how to speak, and I’m an absolute freakin’ unit.”
The 27-year-old does not care about who he fights in the top 15. “I don’t care about the ranking – No. 10 (in the UFC’s official rankings) doesn’t make him have extra fighting skills or extra cardio or a better chin to take these punches,” Pyfer said. “I’m just going to treat it like another fight, go out there and do my job and be exciting and talk my stuff.”
Is Pyfer overlooking Hermansson? “Jack, 35 years old, he’s been out a year, he got TKO’d by Roman Dolidze, who I think had an unimpressive boring fight,” Pyfer said. “I think Roman’s tough but I just, I don’t know. I might be overlooking the guy in some people’s eyes but I just don’t see him being able to hurt me, man.”
If Pyfer can win in spectacular fashion, he will catapult into the top 10 and prove to rest of the middleweight division that he is a real threat to challenge for the title. Fans have gravitated to a fast-rising superstar who takes the UFC by storm, so for Pyfer it will be no different. A win on Saturday will put the rest of the middleweight division on notice and have the fans clamoring to see Pyfer in more high-profile fights.
The Rest of the Main Card:
Featherweight #13 Dan Ige vs. Andre Fili
Middleweight Robert Bryczek vs. Ihor Potieria
Middleweight Brad Tavares vs. Gregory Rodrigues
Lightweight Michael Johnson vs. Darrius Flowers
Middleweight Rodolfo Vieira vs. Armen Petrosyan
ESPN + Prelims:
Welterweight - Trevin Giles vs. Carlos Prates
Lightweight - Bolaji Oki vs. Timothy Cuamba
Women's Strawweight - Loma Lookboonmee vs. Bruna Brasil
Light Heavyweight - Devin Clark vs. Marcin Prachnio
Welterweight - Max Griffin vs. Jeremiah Wells
Light Heavyweight - Zac Pauga vs. Bogdan Guskov
Featherweight - Fernie Garcia vs. Hyder Amil
Bantamweight - Daniel Marcos vs. Aori Qileng
