Joe Pyfer has elaborated on the reasons behind his withdrawal from the UFC Mexico event, where he was scheduled to fight Kelvin Gastelum. Pyfer stated that due to the circumstances leading to his illness, he will not fight in Mexico again and doesn`t plan to return to the country at all.
In strong language shared on his Instagram stories, Pyfer expressed his frustration, saying he doesn`t care if it offends anyone, but he will “never go back to that country.” He explained that despite taking precautions like sleeping in a tent to acclimate to the altitude, he still became sick.
Pyfer addressed suggestions that altitude sickness might have been the cause, stating he prepared for two months, including sleeping in a tent. He dismissed the country with harsh words, reiterating his decision not to fight there again.
He mentioned that the UFC announced his withdrawal due to illness just hours before the event. Pyfer explained that he woke up feeling unwell after a team dinner the previous night and realized fighting Gastelum was not advisable.
Pyfer recounted eating at a place considered safe but subsequently experiencing severe diarrhea, estimating he lost around 15 pounds. He and the doctor decided it was not safe for him to compete in his condition, prioritizing his health.
Despite the setback, Pyfer hopes the UFC will reschedule the fight with Gastelum, expressing confidence in his ability to defeat him. He also voiced feeling bad for Gastelum missing out on the fight and the opportunity to earn money. Pyfer believes a fight between them would be exciting and hopes it can be rearranged in the future. He apologized to his fans who were looking forward to watching him fight, mentioning he was in peak condition and eager to compete.
