Apr 8, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Joe Pyfer (blue gloves) celebrates defeating Gerald Meerschaert (red gloves) during UFC 287 at Miami-Dade Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports

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What happened to Joe Pyfer? Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer called off UFC Mexico Fight Card

Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer has called off UFC Mexico Fight Card

Apr 8, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Joe Pyfer (blue gloves) celebrates defeating Gerald Meerschaert (red gloves) during UFC 287 at Miami-Dade Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports

UFC Fight Night Moreno vs. Erceg main card has suffered a setback just hours the event was supposed to go live. Kelvin Gastelum was supposed to fight Joe Pyfer but as per latest updates, the fight has been called off.

Gastelum, got inducted in the Hall of Fame for him slugfest with former Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya earlier this year during UFC 312 broadcast, did reveal that he was not particularly thrilled with the idea of fighting Pyfer since he is not a ranked opponent.

Dsspite both men making weight during the weigh-ins for the UFC Fight Night event in Mexico city, Joe Pyfer had to withdraw from the fight, leaving Gastelum without an opponent. But what happened to Joe Pyfer? Let’s find out.

What happened to Joe Pyfer and why did he withdraw from the UFC Fight Night in Mexico?

Joe Pyfer withdrew from the UFC Fight Night match-up against Kelvin Gastelum due to an illness. The nature of illness is yet to be revealed.

Due to illness, Joe Pyfer has been removed from his middleweight bout with Kelvin Gastelum. As a result, this bout has been cancelled from today’s event. https://t.co/3zYxRj95Xe
— UFC (@ufc) March 29, 2025

Once a challenger for the UFC Interim Middleweight title against Israel Adesanya, Kelvin Gastelum is trying to get his UFC career back on track. He is 3-6 in his last 9 fights. He did move down a weight class to Welterweight where he got submitted by Sean Brady.

Pyfer, on the other hand, has won 6 of his last 7 fights and has an MMA record of 13 wins and 3 losses, with 9 wins coming via knockout.

Despite losing a good match-up, UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Erceg still looks to be a solid card with former 2-time Flyweight Brandon Moreno taking on Steve Erceg. The card will feature Lightweight bout between Manuel Torres and Drew Dober as the co-main event. Mexico’s teenage sensation Raul Rosas Jr. will also feature on the main card against Vince Morales.

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I work as a Writer at The Playoffs specialising in NHL, Formula 1 and Motorsports. I got into online journalism a couple of years ago. I used to be an intern for a website managing their Formula 1 content and then I served an entire year as a contractual writer.