Pyfer finishes Adesanya in career-best win at UFC Fight Night - ESPN

All week, Joe Pyfer said his recent spiritual transformation would not change his performances inside the Octagon — he proved that on Saturday night against two-time UFC champion Israel Adesanya.

Pyfer (16-3) scored the biggest win of his career at UFC Fight Night in Seattle, finishing Adesanya (24-6) via TKO at the 4:18 mark of the second round. The finish came after Pyfer hurt Adesanya with strikes, threw him to the canvas and forced the referee to intervene with vicious ground strikes from the back.

It was Pyfer's first appearance since he committed himself to Christianity earlier this year, and he revealed his personal life had been even more dire than he'd previously let on.

«I almost took my own life a couple weeks ago, but I found God,» Pyfer said. «I don't like crying, so I'm going to keep it together. God restored me, that's the only reason I'm here.»

Before this year, Pyfer had developed the reputation of something of an antagonist in MMA. Several of his previous fights have involved public animosity with his opponent, and he had been known to sling insults on social media. The buildup to Saturday's main event was completely different, with Pyfer showing nothing but respect for Adesanya, whom he repeatedly referred to as the greatest middleweight of all time.

Adesanya, 36, looked good in the opening seven minutes, defending several Pyfer takedown attempts and even appearing to have him hurt in the second round. Adesanya put Pyfer on his back foot with forward pressure and leg kicks but was eventually forced to back off after Pyfer hit him with a counter left hook. Pyfer followed with a good body shot moments later, and then a flush right hand that visibly had Adesanya rocked.

Pyfer eventually wrestled Adesanya