https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2022/09/ufc-fight-night-210-joe-pyfer-defends-dana-white-reacts-to-win
Joe Pyfer appreciates Dana White taking care of him, looks forward to making most of UFC career
Simon Samano and Ken Hathaway
LAS VEGAS – Maybe this hasn't always been the case, but right now it's good to be Joe Pyfer.
Making his promotional debut Saturday at UFC Fight Night 210, Pyfer demolished Alen Amedovski with a vicious right hand to win by TKO at the 3:55 mark of Round 1. It was quite the first impression officially for Pyfer, who afterward was happy, smiling, and glad that he took no damage.
"It went the way we thought it would go," Pyfer told reporters of the fight at the UFC Apex. "Not surprised by anything. I'm very well prepared with my team and my coaching."
Pyfer (10-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) earned a UFC contract July 26 at Dana White's Contender Series 47 after winning his fight by second-round TKO. He was the only contract winner on what was an otherwise lackluster start to Season 6, which had UFC president Dana White telling future hopefuls to "be Joe Pyfer."
After he finished Amedovski on Saturday, Pyfer asked UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby if he could have a minute to speak with White, because he had something important to say.
"I told (Shelby) I need to talk to him, because I need to thank him, because he gave me a home for a year," Pyfer said. "He gave me money on the side of Contender. And, really, that secured me being able to have a place to live for the next year, on the house of Dana. I think the guy gets sh*t on a lot for not being a good dude or, you know, whatever bullsh*t that people say sometimes. I don't know any of the other stories, but as far as how he's treated me, he's treated me gracefully.
"He's my boss, and I want to like him, I want to respect him, and I have all the respect in the world for him. So, to me, it means something to go shake my boss' hand after I go to work for him."
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The sentiment is understandable. After all, White gave Pyfer a second chance on Contender Series after he suffered a serious elbow injury in his first appearance back in August 2020. His comeback story and favorable standing with White him put a spotlight on Pyfer heading into Saturday that he didn't mind thanks to how he approaches life in general.
"I psyche myself out to just really believe, like – I'm not gonna live forever," Pyfer said. "I want to make a statement in my life that I have one chance to live. Honestly it's just being thankful to be alive, to be here, to have the opportunity to do what I do, make my own schedule. At the end of the day, what is the pressure by saying what you believe? … I say things that I'm 100 percent confident in."
Pyfer, who celebrated his 26th birthday Saturday, knows the money he'll make by fighting in the UFC will be minimal to start. But he also believes that more performances like the Amedovski win could change that in short order and allow him to save money so he can live "as a full-grown adult that's able to provide for himself and make a living."
As far what comes next, Pyfer isn't in a hurry to fight again so soon.
"I'm not gonna rush that just because I went from a fight a month ago to this fight, and I want to enjoy life a little bit," Pyfer said. "I think people try to turn around and fight, fight, fight. And I did that. But I don't want to be arrogant and disrespectful of anybody else in this division. I want to go back, and I want to get better. I don't care what people on the outside think, whether I'm the best or the worst. I care where I think I'm at in my career."
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC Fight Night 210.
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