Joe Pyfer doesn’t see Kelvin Gastelum hanging with the new wave of UFC middleweight talent.
Pyfer (13-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) takes on former interim title challenger Gastelum (18-9 MMA, 13-9 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 64 (ESPN2, ESPN+) main card at Arena CDMX in Mexico City.
After bouncing around from middleweight to welterweight, Gastelum declared that 185 pounds will be his permanent home. In a recent interview with MMA Junkie Radio, Gastelum said he told UFC brass to put him back on the title path, but Pyfer doesn’t think he’s capable of getting there.
“I think there’s a lot of good guys. Caio Borralho, I think, is very good, and if you look at the matchup, I think if they fought, I don’t think it would be close,” Pyfer told MMA Junkie. “I think Caio would trash Kelvin. So when he’s talking about making another title run, I don’t think that that’s really true. I think he’s trying to convince himself that this is home, and this is where he’s supposed to be.
“But he’s had so many ups and downs, and as of lately, his performances haven’t been what they used to be. That’s just my speculation from watching film, and watching him, seeing his performances. But yeah, it’s a talent-rich division, and I think we have the combination of athleticism and power.”
As Pyfer makes his way up the middleweight ranks, he sees Khamzat Chimaev as the most worthy No. 1 contender to face champion Dricus Du Plessis.
“He went out there and trashed Robert Whitaker, who was a great champion, and is still a great competitor, still out there at the top of the division,” Pyfer said. “Why not give Khamzat that shot?”
But does Pyfer think Chimaev can dethrone Du Plessis?
“Yeah, I do,” Pyfer said. “I think if he can beat him in the first two rounds, and if he can get him down in the first two rounds, I think he would beat him. And if he’s able to survive the first two rounds, I think Dricus would wind up finishing him by TKO.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 64.
