UFC 316: Kelvin Gastelum explains frustration of Joe Pyfer fight rebooking, Mexico remarks
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UFC 316: Kelvin Gastelum media day interview
UFC 316 fighter Kelvin Gastelum spoke to MMA Junkie and reporters at media day for his featured bout vs. Joe Pyfer on Saturday.
MORRISTOWN, N.J. – Kelvin Gastelum wasn't thrilled to hear Joe Pyfer talk down on Mexico.
Gastelum (19-9 MMA, 13-9 UFC), a Mexican-American fighter, heard the recent disparaging remarks from Pyfer (13-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) made after an illness led to the cancellation of their first scheduled meeting in March at UFC on ESPN 64, which took place in Mexico City. Pyfer took his frustrations out on the entire country of Mexico, calling the country a "sh*t hole," while vowing never to return.
"Yeah, obviously it did a little bit of sour taste in my mouth," Gastelum told reporters at UFC 316 media day. "I just think that the way he went about it was a little rude. He shouldn't say those things about other people's countries, and I just think he should have been better about the way he went about it. I don't think those comments were right."
The UFC kept the matchup together and rescheduled the fight for the main card of Saturday's UFC 316 (ESPN+ pay-per-view), which takes place at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Gastelum admits there is some frustration that the fight didn't take place in its original location. With the change, Gastelum not only lost out monetarily but also lost a strategic component to the matchup.
"We were ready for Mexico City – I spent a whole month out there, brought a whole camp out there," Gastelum said. "It was so much time and investment financially, and then just it was a hard, grueling camp. We were planning to use the elevation as part of a weapon, so it was unfortunate that it didn't happen there."
Gastelum aims to make it back-to-back wins following a unanimous decision nod over Daniel Rodriguez last June. Keeping the momentum going would be a nice way to enter the summer, where he will be inducted into the UFC's Hall of Fame for his interim title fight war with Israel Adesanya at UFC 236. He admits he hasn't thought much about it yet, as the moment's significance probably won't hit him until the ceremony takes place during International Fight Week.
While a Hall of Fame moment is appreciated, Gastelum wants to be remembered for something more before his career is done.
"I think it was just a result of everything that I've done and the fights and wars that I've had," Gastelum said of the Hall of Fame induction. "But, the ultimate thing is I want people to remember me as the world champion, which hasn't happened yet, and that's still on my mind."
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