Middleweight fighter Joe Pyfer was set to face former interim title challenger Kelvin Gastelum on the UFC Mexico City main card scheduled for Saturday. However, Pyfer unexpectedly withdrew from the fight just hours before the event due to illness.
Both fighters weighed in successfully on Friday, clearing the way for the match. Unfortunately, Pyfer fell ill before he could step into the octagon, leading to the fight's cancellation. In an emotional Instagram post, Pyfer expressed his disappointment, stating, “Just wanna say my heart is broken I couldn’t fight today. I got super sick and hopefully we can reschedule this fight for a few weeks from now. Unfortunately, this comes with the territory of traveling outside the states. Never again my apologies guys. We’ll be back.”
On Sunday, Pyfer provided more details about his illness in an Instagram story. He explained, “Went to dinner, had some food at a place that was supposedly trusted, and a couple of hours later, I had the runs. I think I sh\*t at least 10, 11 times. I went from about 209 pounds, as I was still hydrating, down to 194 pounds the morning of with a puddle I was sleeping in.” He added that he experienced fever, nausea, and severe stomach pain, which the doctor advised made it unwise to fight.
Frustrated by the situation, Pyfer noted he was unsure of the illness's cause but made his feelings about Mexico clear, vowing never to return. “I don’t care if it’s offensive to you, I will never go back to that country,” he stated in the video. “I did everything right. I slept in a tent. I did all this work to still get sick.” Pyfer dismissed claims that altitude sickness could have affected him, asserting he took all necessary precautions to acclimate.
Pyfer's dramatic withdrawal and his strong feelings about the location are likely to impact future planning for fights in Mexico. As fans look forward to potential rescheduling, both Pyfer and Gastelum await further developments.
