Pat Pytlik was focused on the task at hand at Unified 55

Jan 23, 2024

TORONTO – Pat Pytlik rose to the occasion in the biggest fight of his career at Unified 55 in Toronto.

With UFC President Dana White watching closely at cageside, Pytlik needed just 95 seconds to take out top American welterweight prospect Ryan Leinenger in their clash Friday at the sold-out Rebel Entertainment Complex, LIVE on UFC Fight Pass.

The UFC boss and his crew were in attendance filming an episode of the hit UFC Fight Pass reality TV show “Lookin’ for a Fight.” White was ready to award life-changing UFC contracts to the event’s most outstanding performers. 

Pytlik was well aware that Friday’s bout was the biggest opportunity of his impressive career. He knew that fighting in front of UFC brass was an opportunity that could radically change the trajectory of his career and life. 

“It was a little overwhelming when you think about it, but I didn’t see him when I was warming up, so I just compartmentalized it in my mind and just pretended Dana wasn’t there. I actually pretended nobody was there except me and my opponent,” he says.

“Then I saw my wife, I saw my friends, and I knew that I was in a really good spot to go out and perform. Once I got in the cage, I pretended that the only people in attendance were the people I’m close to and care a lot about.” 

Pytlik is now 9-1 on the strength of back-to-back, first-round finishes. All of the former Unified MMA Canadian Champion’s victories have come by KO. 

“I’m pretty happy with my performance,” he says. “There’s always things you can work on, but I’m overall happy with it.”

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 55 events across Canada since it was founded in 2009, and has propelled several athletes to the UFC’s Octagon.