Phil de Fries, a teammate of Tom Aspinall, stated that Alex Pereira previously turned down an opportunity to fight Aspinall. De Fries believes Aspinall is better than Ciryl Gane and that stylistically, opponents match up differently with Tom. The post suggests this would have been a good fight for Aspinall. The channel posed a question to followers about which opponent would be more difficult stylistically for Pereira: Aspinall or Gane. No specific details were provided about when this offer allegedly occurred or under what circumstances.
Phil de Fries, a teammate of reigning UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, has claimed in a social media post that Alex Pereira previously turned down a fight with Aspinall — though no official confirmation of that claim has emerged.
De Fries, training alongside Aspinall at Team Kaobon, suggested the matchup would have been a worthwhile one for his teammate and voiced his belief that Aspinall is a better fighter than current heavyweight number-two contender Ciryl Gane. He also noted that different opponents present different stylistic challenges for Aspinall, framing the Pereira matchup as a genuinely interesting stylistic puzzle. The post prompted discussion among followers about whether Aspinall or Gane would represent the tougher stylistic test for Pereira.
Aspinall, 33, holds a 15-3 record and sits sixth in the pound-for-pound rankings. The six-foot-five Englishman is one of the most active strikers in the division, landing 7.63 significant strikes per minute at a 67 percent accuracy rate, while also averaging 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Gane, ranked second at heavyweight, carries a 14-2 record at 36 years old. The French contender stands six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach and lands 5.29 significant strikes per minute at 61 percent accuracy.
Pereira, 38, is the reigning light heavyweight champion and holds a 13-4 record. The Brazilian stands six-foot-four and averages 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy. His grappling output is minimal, averaging just 0.11 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Aspinall remains without a high-profile unification or crossover opponent, and the report fuels debate about his next challenge
- A Pereira crossover would have been a rare champion-versus-champion scenario across two divisions
- The stylistic contrast is stark: Aspinall's elite grappling and explosive output versus Pereira's knockout power and stand-up pedigree
- No timeline or circumstances for the alleged offer have been confirmed, keeping this firmly in rumour territory
