Joe Pyfer was set to face Kelvin Gastelum at UFC on ESPN 64 in Mexico City at Arena CDMX on March 29, 2025. The middleweight clash was a hot ticket on the main card, but a sudden sickness hit Pyfer hard the night before, scrapping the fight. The 28-year-old opened up about what went down and didn’t hold back, unloading his frustration in a way that’s got fans buzzing.
Pyfer’s Rough Night
“Went to dinner, had some food at a place that was supposedly trusted, and yeah – a couple hours later, I had the runs,” Pyfer said in a video posted to Instagram Stories (h/t MMAJunkie). “I think I sh*t at least 10, 11 times. I went from I think 209 pounds, something like that, as I was still hydrating, down to 194 pounds the morning of with a puddle I was sleeping in. (I had) a fever, nausea obviously. Vomit, excrutiating stomach pain, and the doctor, as well as I did, didn’t find it smart to fight like that. And I know that’s not what everybody wants, but I have to look out for me and my health, and what’s my best interest. Trust me, I am upset as well.”
He’d eaten at a spot his team picked for safety, but it backfired. By morning, he was too wiped out to compete, and the UFC doctor agreed it was a no-go. The cancellation left the card one fight short, disappointing everyone involved.
Joe Pyfer Talks More in Detail about his #UFCMexicoCity Pull Out
“If that’s what altitude and elevation is f*ck 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 suck my b*lls literally” pic.twitter.com/R3MP0QtH9j
— Kevin (@realkevink) March 30, 2025
Pyfer’s Mexico Exit
“I don’t care if it’s offensive to you, I will never go back to that country,” Pyfer said. “I did everything right. I slept in a tent. I did all this work to still get sick. Some people are saying it wasn’t the food, saying I got altitude sickness. I’m not a fcking geographic fcking, you know, elevation fcking scientist, but I was told as long as I acclimated, which I did for two months, slept in a tent on the fcking floor – you know, I did everything that I could to prepare. If that’s what altitude and elevation is, fck that country. I will never fight there again. Sht hole. Not going back. Don’t care if that’s offensive to you. You’re not the one fighting. Suck my balls. Literally.”
Pyfer had trained for weeks to handle Mexico City’s high elevation, even sleeping in a tent to get ready. When fans pointed fingers at altitude instead of food, he snapped, done with the place for good. His words were raw and unfiltered, aimed at anyone doubting his prep.
This was Pyfer’s first planned fight of 2025 after knocking out Marc-Andre Barriault in June 2024. Gastelum, with Mexican heritage, was coming off a win too. Both made weight the day before, but the illness ended it fast. The UFC hasn’t hinted at rescheduling yet, leaving Pyfer’s next step up in the air after this wild turn.
