Joe Pyfer Dominates Luke Rockhold at RAF 13

Joe Pyfer tech-falled Luke Rockhold in a grappling match at RAF 13 on Friday night at the Watsoc Center in Miami, handing the former UFC middleweight champion a lopsided loss and dropping Rockhold to 0-2 on the RAF mat.

Pyfer, the current UFC middleweight who knocked out Israel Adesanya in his most recent Octagon appearance, treated the wrestling bout the way he treats a cage fight. He couldn't throw the power punches that made his name in the UFC, but he found the next best thing, hunting body locks from the opening exchanges and converting them into takedowns Rockhold had no answer for. Rockhold tried to force his way out of bounds a few times to slow the bleeding and even shot a double leg late, but Pyfer read it, nearly pinned him at the edge of the circle, and closed out the win by tech fall once his point lead became insurmountable.

What Rockhold's 0-2 RAF Start Means

Rockhold came into RAF with almost no formal wrestling pedigree, having stopped competing in the sport after high school, the same background Pyfer shares. The difference showed. Rockhold lost his RAF debut by tech fall to Colby Covington back at RAF 5 in January, and Friday's result makes it two lopsided defeats in two tries for the 41-year-old, who left MMA in 2022 and has spent his time since bouncing between disciplines in combat sports. Training seriously for this matchup didn't change the outcome against a younger, more explosive athlete.

Pyfer's Case as a Middleweight Threat Keeps Growing

Beating Rockhold on the mats adds to a resume that already includes a finish of a former UFC champion inside the Octagon. Pyfer is currently ranked in the UFC's middleweight top 15 and is coming off a stoppage win over Israel Adesanya, and Friday's win means he's now beaten two former UFC titleholders in different combat sports settings within the same stretch. None of it counts toward his UFC record, but it reinforces the read that Pyfer's physicality translates across disciplines, not just when he has gloves on. For bettors watching his UFC career, that kind of dominance in a low-stakes exhibition setting is one more data point that "Bodybagz" is a live threat any time he steps into a comparable physical matchup, and books have taken notice of his rise since the Adesanya finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Joe Pyfer vs. Luke Rockhold match at RAF 13?

Joe Pyfer defeated Luke Rockhold by tech fall in their grappling match at RAF 13, held Friday at the Watsoc Center in Miami.

What is Luke Rockhold's record in RAF?

Luke Rockhold is 0-2 in Real American Freestyle after losing to Joe Pyfer at RAF 13 following an earlier tech-fall loss to Colby Covington at RAF 5.

Is Joe Pyfer still an active UFC fighter?

Yes, Joe Pyfer is a current UFC middleweight ranked in the division's top 15, coming off a knockout win over former champion Israel Adesanya.