Joe Pyfer, a middleweight contender in the UFC, has expressed regret for his remarks regarding Mexico.
When the UFC landed in Mexico City on March 29, Pyfer, one of the division’s fastest-rising contenders, was scheduled to take on Kelvin Gastelum. Unfortunately, the battle was called off at the last minute. The reason? Hours before the event, Pyfer experienced stomach issues, which he later blamed in the most tactless way possible on his trip to Mexico.
“I don’t care if it’s offensive to you, I will never go back to that country,” Pyfer said at the time, adding that he “did everything right” in preparation for the fight.
“I slept in a tent and did all this work, to still get sick,” he added. “Some people are saying it wasn’t the food, saying I got altitude sickness. I’m not a f*cking geographic f*cking 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.”
It’s okay that Pyfer isn’t a “f*cking geographic f*cking elevation scientist.” It’s not a legitimate employment. Nevertheless, admirers both inside and outside the nation chastised him for his tirade over Mexico, which clearly did not go down well.
Joe Pyfer issues his apology for his outburst at UFC Mexico
He has now come to see the folly of his actions.
In Newark, New Jersey, Pyfer and Gastelum rescheduled their bout for last Saturday’s UFC 316 program. Pyfer issued an apology for his remarks on Mexico shortly after he was declared the winner by unanimous decision. But he reaffirmed his complete refusal to engage in combat there ever again.
“Ultimately, things did not go well, PR-wise, for me in Mexico,” Pyfer told the media post-fight (transcript via MMA Mania). “And again, I want to apologize to my Mexicans out there that may hate me. It was not anything toward Mexican culture or people. I should’ve rephrased it a lot kinder and I didn’t, so it is what it is. But I do stand that I will never fight there again. It’s too big of a risk for a b*tch like me.”
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