Tyson Pedro has been open about his frustrations following a first-round knockout loss to Rafael Xavier on July 25 at PFL Washington. After returning to MMA with the PFL, Pedro found himself on the losing side for the second time in the promotion, marking a rocky start to his comeback.
In a recent social media post, Pedro broke his silence about the defeat. He reflected on the fight while commenting on footage from the bout. “Well, that sucked,” he stated in a post on Instagram, where he candidly described his experience from the moment he stepped into the cage.
Pedro noted the impact of a particularly powerful calf kick from Xavier early in the fight. The first calf kick, that one right there, just absolutely shut down my calf and I knew I was in for a rough night,” he said. The kick left him severely damaged and unable to continue, marking the second time in his professional career he was stopped via strikes.
Pedro tried to adapt by switching to southpaw, but the damage to his leg left him vulnerable. “I felt massively off,” he admitted. Despite his efforts to adjust, the injury from Xavier's leg kick crippled his ability to move and defend himself effectively, leaving the fight heavily tilted in Xavier's favor.
Pedro compared this loss to his previous outing, which he described as his favorite fight to date. The contrast was stark, as he described this recent performance as one of his worst in his 11-fight UFC career. “Going from the last fight being my favorite fight to date and then this one being the worst one, it is definitely a bit of a kick in the d—,” he added in reference to the emotional toll.
From UFC to PFL, and a Brief foray in Boxing
Before rejoining MMA, Pedro spent time in boxing, where he captured the inaugural WBC Silver International bridgerweight title in 2025. The 34-year-old made the decision to return to MMA later that year, showing his continued passion and dedication to the sport of fighting.
Pedro's journey through the UFC, a brief boxing stint, and now the PFL paints a complicated picture of his career. With two consecutive losses in the new promotion, he will need a strong comeback to regain his form. His future in the PFL is now in question as he evaluates how to move forward after this difficult stretch.
