UFC middleweight veteran Paul Craig was left confused by Joe Pyfer's agitated callout following his UFC 303 victory.
Pyfer made a statement in his return to the win column late last month at the International Fight Week pay-per-view, bouncing back from his first UFC setback in emphatic and violent fashion.
Months on from a decision defeat to Jack Hermansson in their UFC Fight Night main event at the Apex, "Bodybagz" was back putting his finishing ability on full display at Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena, where he stopped Canada's Marc-André Barriault in less than 90 seconds.
In the aftermath, a fired up Pyfer set his sights back on securing a place in the middleweight top 15, this time by targeting the formerly ranked Paul Craig.
More than just a random callout, the New Jersey native revealed a grudge he's held for months as the motive behind his desire to share the cage with the Scottish vet.
He just looked at me weird one time and I don’t even think he remembers, but I hold grudges, so f*ck him," Pyfer said at the UFC 303 post-fight press conference. "I don’t like the dude. That’s the only thing I can say is I don’t really like the guy. There’s something about his f*cking face. It’s also his antics. He gets in your face and be all theatrical, but then he gets touched, and he falls on to the ground like a back princess.
I think it makes sense, too. Logistically, I think it makes sense. He was number 14, and then he fought Caio (Borralho) and lost. I don’t know where he’s at, if 15 or just outside the rankings, and I’m number 19, so let’s line it up," Pyfer continued. "That’s what I’m interested in, so why not?
Craig Bemused By Pyfer's Reasoning For 'Disliking' Him
During a recent episode of his Leather'd Podcast, Craig was shown Pyfer clarifying his reasoning behind calling him out during an appearance on The MMA Hour.
The clip showed "Bodybagz" recalling crossing paths with Craig while in attendance at Boston's TD Garden for UFC 292 last August. Pyfer appeared offended not to have been given some sort of nod of respect from "Bearjew."
Suffice to say, Craig was baffled by that justification.
I don't (know who he is). A guy nods at me, 'What the f*ck, who is this guy?'" Craig said. "So what was it, in Boston I didn't give him a nod? That's f*cking — this guy's f*cked in the head (laughs). Man, if that's what gets you hard.
So he's been since Boston thinking about this, 'This guy never gave me a nod. How could he do that?!' Like, who the f*ck are you?" Craig continued. "It was a good knockout (at UFC 303). Gotta give him props for that.
It remains to be seen whether Pyfer will get the opportunity to settle what appears to be a firmly one-sided feud, and one which Craig didn't even know existed until a couple of weeks ago.