(Editor’s note: This fight was officially canceled Saturday, a few hours before the start of the event.)
Kelvin Gastelum and Joe Pyfermeet Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN 64 at Arena CDMX in Mexico City. Check out this quick breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom.
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Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer UFC Mexico preview
Gastelum (18-9 MMA, 13-9 UFC) apparently has decided he’s going to stay put at middleweight, and has said he thinks he can make another title run … Pyfer (13-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is a heavy favorite and has other ideas; he got back on track in June 2024 with a bonus-winning knockout after an upset loss to Jack Hermansson.
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer UFC Mexico expert pick, prediction
Filling out the main card is a middleweight matchup between Kelvin Gastelum and Joe Pyfer.
After another failed campaign at 170 pounds, Gastelum finds himself in the division that’s sadly been his home all along: middleweight.
And the UFC matchmakers, who aren’t beyond going back to the Joe Silva methods of channeling their ire, are accommodating Gastelum’s feet-first attitude about a title run but putting him up against the red-hot Pyfer.
Pyfer’s slightly lower output and suspect gas tank could certainly rear its head against a durable fighter like Gastelum at high elevation, but I suspect that the Marquez MMA product takes a page out of his Philly stablemate’s book by taking this to the ground.
Pyfer may not be on the same level as his teammate Sean Brady, but “Bodybagz” is an underrated wrestler and submission grappler who regularly competes in those arts and knows when to use them in the octagon.
The pick is Pyfer by submission in Round 2.
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer UFC Mexico odds
The oddsmakers and the public are favoring the younger fighter, listing Pyfer -320 and Gastelum +245 via FanDuel.
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer UFC Mexico start time, how to watch
Gastelum and Pyfer are expected to walk to the cage at approximately 8:45 p.m. ET. The fight airs on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 64.
