UFC fighter Kelvin Gastelum has spoken out after his scheduled fight with Joe Pyfer at UFC Mexico City was cancelled.
Gastelum and rising middleweight contender Joe Pyfer were set to face each other in a key fight at UFC Mexico City. However, just hours before the event, Pyfer had to withdraw due to illness, leaving Gastelum without a fight and off the card.
Pyfer has since expressed his disappointment about having to pull out at the last minute and is aiming to return to the Octagon as soon as possible. It is currently unclear whether the UFC will reschedule Gastelum vs. Pyfer or explore other options.
News of the fight cancellation between Gastelum and Pyfer was met with disappointment from fans and commentators. Gastelum, understandably, felt it the most. He recently shared a video showing his live reaction to receiving the news from UFC matchmakers about Pyfer`s withdrawal.
In a recent online post, Gastelum made his first public statement after the cancellation of his fight at UFC Mexico City.
“I received a call informing me that my opponent was sick and had to withdraw from the fight,” Gastelum posted on Sunday. “Naturally, I am extremely disappointed about this situation, which is beyond my control. I wish my opponent the best in the future.”
Gastelum`s words could suggest he is ready to move on from the Pyfer fight and seek a different opponent. He returned to the middleweight division after a victory over Daniel Rodriguez last June.
Gastelum shared footage of his reaction to the Pyfer news, which can be seen in the clip.
Following his withdrawal from UFC Mexico City, Pyfer reportedly made strong comments about Mexico after a difficult experience during fight week. Pyfer stated he would `never return` to Mexico and used harsh language.
As of now, UFC officials have not responded to Pyfer`s comments. The UFC is scheduled to return to Mexico later this year for Noche UFC 3 in Guadalajara.
Just hours before withdrawing, Pyfer had claimed to be in peak health after the weigh-ins. However, after experiencing vomiting, stomach pain, and fever, doctors advised him to withdraw from the event.
For Gastelum, his UFC 236 fight against Israel Adesanya will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer. Regarding his fighting career, he may return to the Octagon in the coming months against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.
Rupert Hartwell