Las Vegas — Middleweight Joe Pyfer is coming off a win over Kelvin Gastelum in June that saw him go to a rare decision, just the second decision win of his career and third time overall going to the judges.
That coupled with some of the turmoil surrounding the fight, including it being shifted from UFC Mexico City to UFC 316 after Pyfer was hit with food poisoning, appears to have brought out a number of critics. Speaking to Cageside Press at UFC X in Las Vegas, however, Pyfer gave his own take on the fight and his performance.
“I think the expectation is set so high on me because of my power, because of how I strike and how I like to throw bombs,” stated Pyfer (14-3). “Listen, I dropped him, I dominated him, I got hit six times, I can tell you every shot he hit me with. It was not a close fight, and like I said the expectation was very high for me to have a finish.”
“I got a lot of hype in the beginning, so if I’m not out there getting finishes I think people are always going to be critical of my performances,” he added.
“Kelvin Gastelum’s name is under my resume for the rest of my career. And he’s a great. He got inducted to the Hall of Fame for his fight with Izzy. So I have no problems with it. I took no damage and I whupped his ass. The only other person who’s dropped him besides me was [Jared] Cannonier and Israel Adesanya.”
Asked about some upcoming middleweight fights, Joe Pyfer is siding with Caio Borralho over Nassourdine Imavov at UFC Paris. “I think he’s just the more complete fighter between the two,” he said of Borralho, noting he was friends with the Brazilian, and adding that Imavov remained dangerous. Still, he finished, “I’m going to lean Caio Borralho for sure.”
As for the UFC 319 main event of Dricus Du Plessis versus Khamzat Chimaev, “I think it’s a 50-50,” Pyfer opined. “I think Khamzat is obviously a bad dude. His wrestling is very good. As far as on the feet, I don’t think he should- if he can get him down inside two rounds and get the finish, or get him down in two rounds I think he’ll get the finish. But I wouldn’t be surprised if DDP can survive, and be able to beat him in the later rounds.”
Watch our full interview with UFC middleweight Joe Pyfer above.
