UFC star Joe Pyfer says ‘F**k Mexico’ after falling ill before fight: “Don’t care if it’s offensive”

Rising middleweight Joe Pyfer slams Mexico after getting severely ill just a few hours before his fight against Kelvin Gastelum.

UFC star Joe Pyfer says ‘F**k Mexico’ after falling ill before fight: “Don’t care if it’s offensive”

Joe Pyfer promises never to fight in Mexico after a serious illness (via X)

UFC Mexico was a massive success, with thousands of passionate fans filling the arena to witness an exciting night of fights. In the main event, hometown hero Brandon Moreno stepped into the octagon against Steve Erceg, creating an electric atmosphere. Unfortunately, the highly anticipated co-main event between Joe Pyfer and Kelvin Gastelum was canceled at the last moment. 

Pyfer has been making waves since since his last win against Marc-Andre Barriault at UFC 303. Going into the bout, the Philly fighter was excited about taking on a veteran like Gastelum. However, he fell ill and was forced to pull out just hours before the fight. Frustrated with how things turned out, Pyfer went on social media to slam Mexico. 

I will never go back to that country. I did all this work to still get sick. Some people are saying it wasn’t the food, saying I got altitude sickness…I acclimated, which I did for two months, slept in a tent on the f***ing floor….f**k that country. I will never fight there again. Sh*t hole. Not going back. Don’t care if that’s offensive to you. You’re not the one fighting. Su*k my b*lls. Literally.

Joe Pyfer via Instagram 

Joe Pyfer recounted a difficult experience, explaining that he had fallen ill after dining at a supposedly reputable restaurant. A few hours after eating, he began experiencing severe digestive issues. Pyfer estimated that he had to use the bathroom at least 10 or 11 times, leading to a significant drop in weight. 

The middleweight prospect noted that he had been in the process of rehydrating and weighed around 209 pounds before the illness struck. By the following morning, after a restless night spent in a sweat-soaked bed, his weight had plummeted to 194 pounds. Pyfer described the severity of his condition, stating that he experienced a fever, nausea, vomiting, and excruciating stomach pain. 

After consulting with a doctor, both he and the medical professional agreed to fight in the current situation. Acknowledging that the decision might disappoint others, Pyfer emphasized that his health had to come first. The prospect assured fans that he was just as upset about the situation as they were. He also apologized to Gastelum and asked for an opportunity to reschedule the bout. 

Kelvin Gastelum reacts to Joe Pyfer’s last-minute pullout 

Kelvin Gastelum’s last outing was against Daniel Rodriguez, which he won via unanimous decision, and he wanted to keep that momentum. After the fight with Joe Pyfer was announced, Gastelum wasn’t that pleased, as he wanted someone else. He wanted a ranked opponent and a bigger name, but the UFC had other plans.

Kelvin Gastelum left disappointed after Joe Pyfer pullout
Kelvin Gastelum left disappointed after Joe Pyfer pullout (via MMA Fighting)

However, he later acknowledged the kind of challenge Pyfer presented him. He wanted to test his skills against the young killers of the division. The former title challenger had plans to beat Joe Pyfer and potentially fight someone ranked in the division. However, fate had other plans, and the fight was canceled and Gastelum wasn’t happy with it. 

I got the call that my opponent got sick and had to pull out the fight. Obviously I’m gutted to the core about this situation that is out of my control but wish my opponent all the best in the future.

Kelvin Gastelum via X 

Kelvin Gastelum is a true veteran of the sport and has been a part of the UFC since 2013. He has fought some of the biggest names in the middleweight division like Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker, Michael Bisping, etc. Due to his inconsistency, the American fighter had to change his weight class recently, but it didn’t help him.

He looked extremely disappointed after the fight cancellation, and so was his team. Given the amount of time and effort that goes into fight camps, things like this can be really hard to face. Gastelum wanted to get this win, but it will now be interesting to see whether this fight gets rescheduled.

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