Joe Pyfer had a rough recent trip across the border to fight at UFC Mexico City. Booked to fight Kelvin Gastelum at the March 29 event, Pyfer’s middleweight tilt was ultimately cancelled after a last-minute illness prevented him from competing. The Philadelphia native then took to social media, stating he had severe nausea that resulted in vomiting and sweating throughout the night, as well as “at least 10 or 11” trips to the bathroom. In doing so, Pyfer also took out his frustrations on Mexico.
“I don’t care if it’s offensive to you, I will never go back to that country,” Pyfer ranted. “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***ing geographic f***ing, you know, elevation f***ing scientist, but I was told as long as I acclimated, which I did for two months, slept in a tent on the f***ing floor — you know, I did everything that I could to prepare.
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“If that’s what altitude and elevation is, f*** that country. I will never fight there again. S*** hole. Not going back. Don’t care if that’s offensive to you. You’re not the one fighting. Suck my balls. Literally.”
Pyfer’s fight against Gastelum has since been rebooked for June 7 at UFC 316 in Newark, New Jersey.
While Pyfer’s trip to Mexico didn’t go according to plan, former two-time UFC flyweight champion Moreno can’t relate — he scored a big unanimous decision win over Steve Erceg in UFC Mexico City’s main event. As a proud Mexico-born fighter, Moreno is well aware of Pyfer’s comments.
“The only thing I can say is, it’s fine. We don’t need him, as well. It’s mutual,” Moreno said Wednesday on Uncrowned’s “The Ariel Helwani Show.”
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After his latest performance, Moreno is back on a UFC win streak for the first time since his second title run in 2023. And with this year’s annual Noche UFC event set to take place in Guadalajara — marking the first time the UFC’s annual Independence Day celebration will be held in Mexico — a spot on the card would be a dream come true for Moreno.
“The Assassin Baby” has yet to be a part of a Noche UFC card and called for his chance after beating Erceg. Despite some minor foot swelling from his latest fight, the five-month gap until September is a perfect timeline for Moreno. It all comes down to whether or not he gets the title shot he desires.
“I would love to fight for the title in front of my people,” Moreno said. “I think those kind of moments are those kind of moments where you can be a legend in one moment. Win the title in front of my people in Mexico — that would be awesome to me, for my legacy, for my career.
“The [flyweight] division is very weird right now. Manel Kape is going to fight against [Brandon] Royval, and [Kai Kara-]France, let’s see what happens, if he’s going to fight [UFC champion Alexandre] Pantoja in the future. Brother, I’ll just be ready for whatever.”
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Pantoja’s current reign as flyweight champion began with a thrilling split decision over Moreno in 2023. The loss was Moreno’s second to his Brazilian rival — really, third if you include their exhibition bout on “The Ultimate Fighter 24.”
Moreno also holds two wins over the division’s potential next challenger, Kara-France. So if Kara-France is indeed next in line, Moreno will be watching closely, hoping that either Pantoja or the New Zealander can turn around to fight him in September.
“It’s hard to go against Pantoja because he’s doing a really good job, right?” Moreno said. “He has this really crazy ability to survive. He finds a way. Sometimes he looks tired with his body or face, but he finds a way to survive the fight, and that’s why he’s the champion right now. Obviously, the possibility Kai Kara-France has right now, he has more experience than when he fought against [Pantoja] in ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ and man, the guy has a lot of power. We saw that against Erceg and other fighters.
“I remember my last fight against him, he hit me hard in the third round, but it’s hard to go against Pantoja at this point.”
