“Grateful” Pat Pytlik going with the flow after triumphant return in Toronto

Dec 19, 2022

EDMONTON – Pat Pytlik has just one word to sum up his triumphant return to the cage at Unified 48 in Toronto on Friday.

“Grateful,” he says with a smile.

Pytlik’s first-round TKO victory over Michael Hill at the International Centre on Friday on UFC Fight Pass was his first fight in over three years. He was previously sidelined due to a serious back injury. He was strongly advised by doctors to not fight again, and at one point the former Unified MMA Canadian Super-Lightweight Champion couldn’t walk without crippling pain.

“Everybody had written me off, and it was really hard to hear at the time,” says Pytlik, who credits Dr. Stuart M. McGill, a world-renowned expert in back injuries, for his return to form in the cage.

“Even if I would’ve lost that fight, it still would’ve been a win in my eyes because of everything I had to overcome to get there.”

Pytlik improved to 8-1 with the victory. All of his wins have come by knockout, so the Waterloo, ON product is surely a candidate to get signed by the UFC or given an opportunity to compete for a UFC deal on Dana White’s Contender Series.

But now that Pytlik is back in the saddle after being out of commission for so long, he’s just enjoying the ride and less concerned about his destination.

“I had a great time Friday, and we’ll just see what the future brings.”

ABOUT UNIFIED MMA

Unified MMA is Canada’s leading mixed martial arts promotion, showcasing the country’s top-ranked fighters, LIVE on UFC Fight Pass. The organization has successfully promoted 47 events since it was founded in 2009, and has propelled several athletes to the UFC’s Octagon.