Joe Pyfer Turns Down Anthony Hernandez After Bo Nickal Fight Gets Postponed

Meanwhile, he has turned down an offer to fight Anthony Hernandez.

A recently shared post by Full Mount MMA on X revealed that Hernandez was offered as a replacement, but Pyfer declined. During a recent interview with Tim Welch, the middleweight spoke about his initial reaction to the delay and why he still wants to face Nickal.

Joe Pyfer Turns Down Anthony Hernandez

Pyfer explicitly stated that he turned down Anthony 'Fluffy' Hernandez because beating Bo Nickal brings him much closer to a UFC title shot.

“I probably got one real run at the title with the way my injuries are,” Pyfer said.

The middleweight suggested that he wants to take fights that build his resume rather than just accepting bouts for a paycheck. He also framed Nickal as a “great name,” as he tries to make the most of his opportunities in the division.

Joe Pyfer Reacts to Bo Nickal Fight Delay

'Bodybagz' said he turned angry when he found out the fight had been pushed back, also stating that he heard about the change three or four days before speaking with Welch.

“I was like, red-faced, angry, like pissed off, but I just prayed about it,” Pyfer said.

Pyfer had been told Nickal tweaked something and needed more time. 

“I think it’s a great fight for me. It’s a bad, bad fight for him,” Pyfer said.

The 30-year-old truly believes his experience in MMA will give him an edge over Nickal, whose background is primarily in wrestling. Pyfer looks to make Nickal struggle if he cannot take him down.

"If he doesn’t take me down and finish me right away, he’s going to struggle. He’s going to drown out there because he doesn’t have the MMA experience that I have."

 

The bout was originally scheduled for UFC 335 on December 12 in Las Vegas, but now it is expected to headline a UFC Cleveland event in February 2027.