Joe Pyfer doesn’t see Kelvin Gastelum hanging with the brand new wave of UFC middleweight expertise.
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+) foremost card at Area CDMX in Mexico Metropolis.
After bouncing round from middleweight to welterweight, Gastelum declared that 185 kilos can be his everlasting residence. In a latest interview with MMA Junkie Radio, Gastelum mentioned he advised UFC brass to place him again on the title path, however Pyfer doesn’t suppose he’s able to getting there.
“I feel there’s lots of good guys. Caio Borralho, I feel, is superb, and when you have a look at the matchup, I feel in the event that they fought, I don’t suppose it might be shut,” Pyfer advised MMA Junkie. “I feel Caio would trash Kelvin. So when he’s speaking about making one other title run, I don’t suppose that that’s actually true. I feel he’s attempting to persuade himself that that is residence, and that is the place he’s speculated to be.
“However he’s had so many ups and downs, and as of currently, his performances haven’t been what they was once. That’s simply my hypothesis from watching movie, and watching him, seeing his performances. However yeah, it’s a talent-rich division, and I feel we now have the mixture of athleticism and energy.”
As Pyfer makes his method up the middleweight ranks, he sees Khamzat Chimaev as probably the most worthy No. 1 contender to face champion Dricus Du Plessis.
“He went on the market and trashed Robert Whitaker, who was an excellent champion, and is nonetheless an excellent competitor, nonetheless on the market on the high of the division,” Pyfer mentioned. “Why not give Khamzat that shot?”
However does Pyfer suppose Chimaev can dethrone Du Plessis?
“Yeah, I do,” Pyfer mentioned. “I feel if he can beat him within the first two rounds, and if he can get him down within the first two rounds, I feel he would beat him. And if he’s capable of survive the primary two rounds, I feel Dricus would wind up ending him by TKO.”
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