UFC’s Joe Pyfer unsure what caused illness, blames ‘sh*t hole’ Mexico

UFC middleweight Joe Pyfer isn’t exactly sure what caused the illness that forced him out of a fight against Kelvin Gastelum at the last minute, but that didn’t stop him from ripping an entire country for his issues.

Pyfer (13-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) was set for a main card showdown against Kelvin Gastelum at UFC on ESPN 64. The matchup was one of the most anticipated fights on the entire card, but Pyfer was forced out just hours before the event due to illness.

Shortly after the news was confirmed, Pyfer shared a message on social media saying he was heartbroken about having to pull out of the fight, and hoped he would be able to reschedule the fight against Gastelum (19-9 MMA, 13-9 UFC) in a few weeks.

Following the event, Pyfer shared a lengthier explanation of what went down from his perspective, while also issuing an apology to Gastelum. Pyfer said he went to a team dinner, but did not drink the water during his entire stay in Mexico before the fight.

“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. “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.”

Pyfer explained that going through the process of bringing his family and friends out for the fight, but being unable to compete was a financial blow as well becuase he did not get paid. He hopes to keep the Gastelum matchup, because he believes it’s a good fight that makes sense.

In closing his video, Pyfer went scorched earth on Mexico as a country. While admitting he wasn’t sure what caused the illness, Pyfer made a promise to never return to Mexico, labeling the nation a “sh*t hole.”

“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 f*cking geographic f*cking, you know, elevation f*cking scientist, but I was told as long as I acclimated, which I did for two months, slept in a tent on the f*cking floor – you know, I did everything that I could to prepare.

“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 balls. Literally.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 64.