Kelvin Gastelum has been explaining why he’s opted to pull out of a fight against short- notice replacement Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 273 on April 9th.
“I wish this didn’t happen and unfortunately I had to withdraw from the fight,” Gastelum wrote on Twitter. “I was advised not to disclose the injury, and just know I am compromised and I can’t and won’t be heading into the fight compromised in the way that I am.
“I just have to say sorry to Dricus du Plessis. Sorry I had to pull out this way last minute. You were our last hope to stay on the card, and I was so thankful you accepted the fight, but I did receive an injury shortly after out bouts were signed. I was so happy to stay on the card. My team and I did so much work and we were proud of that work that we put over the last six months. … Sorry to my team, as well, the people over at Fight Ready. There’s so many people that put in so much effort for me to be able to perform. I was so ready.
“I felt like it was a restart in my career, a restart toward another title run. I really felt that way, but unfortunately that’s going to be postponed a little bit. Just know we were so ready, and I’m thankful to the fans that stuck by me. It’s going to be worth it. … I’m not done, far from it. Sorry to the fans. Sorry to my team. Sorry to Dricus. I’m going to get healed up, get ready for the next one, and go on another title run.”
