The middleweight fight between Kelvin Gastelum and Joe Pyfer, which was previously cancelled at UFC Mexico, has been rescheduled for UFC 316. The event will take place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on June 7.
Sources familiar with the promotion`s plans confirmed the new date to MMA media outlets on Monday. This announcement followed Joe Pyfer`s coach, John Marquez, initially revealing the information on the MMA Today program.
Their initial matchup was called off just hours before the March 29 event because Pyfer fell ill and was unable to compete. Following the cancellation, Pyfer expressed strong negative feelings towards Mexico, stating he would never fight there again due to his sickness.
Pyfer recounted on his Instagram stories that despite taking precautions, including sleeping in a tent to acclimate, he still became sick. He dismissed suggestions that altitude sickness was the cause, and emphatically declared his refusal to return to fight in Mexico, using harsh language.
However, Pyfer will not need to return to Mexico. Instead, he is set to participate in the UFC`s June event in New Jersey, marking the organization`s return to the East Coast.
UFC 316 is set to be headlined by a bantamweight title rematch between champion Merab Dvalishvili and Sean O’Malley. The co-main event will feature Julianna Peña defending her women’s bantamweight title against Kayla Harrison.
