Phil De Fries, a training partner of Tom Aspinall, stated that Alex Pereira turned down an opportunity to fight Aspinall. The post discusses potential stylistic matchups for Pereira at heavyweight, comparing how Aspinall and Ciryl Gane might match up against the champion. De Fries suggests that while Aspinall may be better than Gane overall, different opponents present different stylistic challenges. The post asks followers to weigh in on who would be the tougher stylistic test for Pereira. No timeline or specific details about the declined offer were provided.
A training partner of UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has claimed that light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira previously turned down an offer to fight Aspinall — though no official confirmation of that claim has emerged, and details remain scarce.
Phil De Fries, who trains alongside Aspinall at Team Kaobon, made the assertion publicly, framing it as an opportunity Pereira chose not to take. De Fries offered no timeline or specifics about the alleged offer, and the report should be treated as unconfirmed.
Aspinall, 33, holds the UFC heavyweight title and carries a 15-3 record. The Englishman stands six-foot-five with a 78-inch reach and ranks sixth pound-for-pound in the promotion. His output is striking — he lands 7.63 significant strikes per minute at 67 percent accuracy, numbers that place him among the most efficient heavyweights in the sport, and he adds 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Pereira, 38, holds the light heavyweight title and carries a 13-4 record. The Brazilian stands six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach and lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy. A potential move to heavyweight has long circulated around his name.
De Fries also raised the stylistic question of how Pereira might compare against Aspinall versus the number-two ranked heavyweight contender Ciryl Gane. Gane, 36, stands six-foot-four with an exceptionally long 81-inch reach and holds a 14-2 record. His movement-based striking style, landing 5.29 significant strikes per minute, presents a different set of problems than Aspinall's pressure-heavy, high-volume approach. De Fries suggested the two opponents would test Pereira in distinct ways.
Why it matters
- Pereira's potential heavyweight move remains one of the most discussed what-ifs in the division
- Aspinall, the reigning champion, has an active record and no confirmed next opponent
- Gane sits at number two in the heavyweight rankings, keeping him in title contention regardless
- This report is unconfirmed and carries no official backing from the UFC or Pereira's camp
