Phil de Fries, a teammate of Tom Aspinall, has stated that Alex Pereira previously turned down an opportunity to fight Tom Aspinall. The post suggests that while the author believes Aspinall is better than Francis Ngannou, the stylistic matchups present different challenges for Pereira. The author indicates this would have been an excellent fight for Aspinall. The post asks readers to weigh in on who would be the more difficult stylistic opponent for Pereira between Aspinall and Ngannou. Details about when this offer occurred or the circumstances surrounding Pereira's alleged decline are not provided in the post.
A teammate of UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has claimed, without offering specific details, that light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira previously turned down a fight against Aspinall — a report that remains unconfirmed.
Phil de Fries, a training partner of Aspinall at Team Kaobon, made the assertion on social media, framing the unbuilt matchup as a missed opportunity. De Fries also posed a question to fans about whether Aspinall or Francis Ngannou would present the tougher stylistic challenge for Pereira. No timeline or circumstances behind the alleged refusal were provided.
Aspinall, 33, holds a 15-3-0 record and currently sits sixth in the pound-for-pound rankings as the reigning UFC heavyweight champion. The six-foot-five Englishman carries a 78-inch reach and produces some of the most efficient striking in the division, landing 7.63 significant strikes per minute at an accuracy rate of 67 percent. He also adds a credible grappling threat, averaging 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Pereira, known as "Poatan," is 38 years old and holds a 13-4-0 record as the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion. The six-foot-four Brazilian carries a 79-inch reach and lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy. His grappling involvement is minimal, averaging just 0.11 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Ngannou, 38, carries an 18-3-0 record and ranks 12th pound-for-pound. The six-foot-four Cameroonian also holds a 83-inch reach — the longest of the three fighters mentioned.
Why it matters
- Aspinall has publicly sought a superfight at light heavyweight, making Pereira the most logical opponent
- An alleged prior refusal, if verified, would add significant context to those ongoing negotiations
- The stylistic contrast between Aspinall's high-volume striking and grappling versus Pereira's knockout power raises genuine questions about divisional crossover matchmaking
