Tom Aspinall's training partner Phil De Fries has stated that Alex Pereira previously turned down an opportunity to face Aspinall. De Fries believes stylistically the matchup would be different from Ciryl Gane for Pereira, and suggests it would be an excellent fight for Aspinall. The post asks followers which fighter presents a tougher stylistic challenge for Pereira between Aspinall and Gane. Details about when Pereira allegedly declined the fight or the circumstances are not provided in the brief post.
Phil De Fries, a training partner of interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, has claimed that light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira previously passed on a fight against Aspinall — though no official confirmation of that assertion has emerged.
De Fries, who trains alongside Aspinall at Team Kaobon, offered no specific details about when or under what circumstances Pereira allegedly declined. The claim should be treated as unconfirmed while it remains unaddressed by either camp.
Aspinall, 33, carries a 15-3 record and currently holds the interim heavyweight title while ranking sixth on the pound-for-pound list. The Manchester-born fighter is one of the most statistically dominant heavyweights in UFC history, landing 7.63 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 67 percent — a remarkable figure for the division. He also averages 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a genuine two-way threat.
Pereira, 38, holds a 13-4 record and reigns as light heavyweight champion. Known as "Poatan," the Brazilian is a dangerous striker landing 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy, though his grappling output is minimal, averaging just 0.11 takedowns per 15 minutes. A cross-divisional super-fight would require him to move up to heavyweight.
De Fries also weighed in on the stylistic contrast between Aspinall and Ciryl Gane, the number-two ranked heavyweight, suggesting Aspinall would present a distinctly different puzzle for Pereira than Gane did. Gane, 36, carries a 14-2 record and relies on a fluid kickboxing style, posting 5.29 significant strikes per minute across a career built on movement and range.
Why it matters
- Aspinall has been linked to a super-fight with Pereira for months, and De Fries's claim adds new texture to that narrative
- Pereira's minimal grappling output could be tested differently by Aspinall's takedown volume compared to the more striking-focused Gane
- The report is unconfirmed and the circumstances of any alleged refusal remain entirely unclear
