“He’s a very skilled guy — probably the most skilled and, firefight-wise, probably the most dangerous, aside from Abdul (Razak Alhassan) who I’ve fought,” Pyfer said, offering his honest assessment of Magomedov. “He’s very dangerous, very good, and I respect him, but I’m looking to take him out. I’m excited for the fight; I’m excited for the matchup.

“I think it’s gonna depend a lot on him — how aggressive he is, how aggressive I am — but in a perfect world, I get him out of there inside two rounds, maybe even the first round,” he added. “But like I said, he’s very skilled, and I have a lot of respect for him and his career — he’s got double the fights that I do — but he’s been sent to the Dark World once, stone-cold, he’s been TKOed once in the UFC, and he’s been hurt in both of his fights against Caio and Brunno Ferreria.

“These are all top guys, and it’s no knock on him, but what I’m saying is there is (an avenue where) I have big power, and, if I can touch him, throw combinations, keep that pressure on him, I know he’s gonna break. My opinion of Abus is that he’s a very good fighter, he’s a very skilled fighter, but he’s not a very tough fighter. That’s just my opinion and I’m looking forward to challenging him on that.”

And if his idealized version of how things transpire should come to pass, there is only one place Pyfer envisions himself after this weekend.

“Top 15, especially with a finish,” he said. “If I don’t get a finish, I understand not Top 15, but with a good finish? A good knockout? I think Top 15.”

Zac Pacleb contributed to this story.