Joe Pyfer, born in Vineland, New Jersey, is an American professional mixed martial artist competing in the UFC's Middleweight division, nicknamed "Bodybagz" for his devastating knockout power. Raised in a challenging environment marked by abuse and homelessness, Pyfer began training in martial arts at age four, starting with jiu-jitsu and judo, and later wrestling in high school. Turning pro in 2018, he captured the Art of War and ROC middleweight titles before earning a UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series in 2022 with a second-round TKO. With a record of 14-3, including nine knockouts and three submissions, Pyfer has delivered highlight-reel finishes in the Octagon, earning Performance of the Night bonuses for wins over Alen Amedovski, Abdul Razak Alhassan, and Marc-André Barriault. His latest victory came via unanimous decision against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 316 in June 2025. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkoujZQZatbqy4KGcgjpVxQ/join Shawn Ryan Show Links SUBSCRIBE: http://www.youtube.com/@ShawnRyanShow Sign up: https://shawnryanshow.com/pages/newsletter Support the Show: https://www.patreon.com/VigilanceElite Download Free Content: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lF-8_5jwRc5eAhzDkqqCOp-6yvd05vAw?usp=sharing Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shawn-ryan-show/id1492492083 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5eodRZd3qR9VT1ip1wI7xQ?si=59f9d106e56a4509 Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shawnryanshow Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnryanshow/ Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shawnryanshow/ Follow on X: https://twitter.com/ShawnRyanShow SRS Podcast Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4pqo9Uoh0WuUKxw0BmaK1yrg9Kd7E4lk #vigilanceelite #shawnryanshow Joe Pyfer Links: IG - https://www.instagram.com/joepyfer UFC Profile - https://www.ufc.com/athlete/joe-pyfer Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: https://ROKA.com – USE CODE SRS https://patriotmobile.com/srs https://ketone.com/srs Visit https://ketone.com/srs for 30% OFF your subscription order https://meetfabric.com/shawn https://ziprecruiter.com/srs https://rocketmoney.com/srs 00:00 Introduction & Joe Pyfer’s Upbringing 02:36 UFC Journey & Achievements 09:26 Gifts, Surprises & UFC Community Support 21:13 Family Struggles & Personal Challenges 39:41 Early Abuse & Narcotics Impact 45:09 Homeschooling, Jujitsu & Sibling Dynamics 55:10 Father’s Violence & Manipulation 01:08:54 Seeking Escape & Finding Support 01:20:16 Depression, Isolation & Mother’s Return 01:23:04 Moving Out & New Challenges 01:27:50 Wrestling & Finding a Mentor 01:55:57 Family Reconnection & Forgiveness 02:26:03 Overcoming Adversity & Inner Strength 02:48:42 Transition to Professional Fighting 03:02:29 First Loss, Recovery & Contender Series 03:09:14 Injury, Road to Recovery & Comeback 03:15:55 UFC Opportunity & Triumphs 03:20:06 Recognition & Reflections 03:27:42 Family, Future Goals & Resilience