Phil de Fries, a teammate of Tom Aspinall, stated that Alex Pereira previously turned down an opportunity to fight Tom. De Fries believes Aspinall is better than Francis Ngannou and that different opponents present different stylistic challenges for Poatan. The post poses a question to readers about which heavyweight would be a tougher stylistic matchup for Alex Pereira. Details about when this alleged offer occurred or the circumstances surrounding Pereira's decision are not provided in the post.
Phil de Fries, a teammate of UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, has claimed that light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira previously turned down an offer to fight Aspinall — though the report is unconfirmed and key details remain unclear.
De Fries, a fellow member of Team Kaobon, made the assertion publicly without specifying when the alleged offer was made or what circumstances led to Pereira declining. He also argued that Aspinall poses a more dangerous stylistic test for Pereira than Francis Ngannou would, framing the two heavyweights as distinct challenges for the Brazilian champion.
Aspinall, 33, holds a 15-3-0 record and sits sixth in the pound-for-pound rankings. The six-foot-five Englishman carries a 78-inch reach and is among the most active strikers in the sport, landing 7.63 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 67 percent accuracy. He also averages 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded threat on the feet and on the ground.
Pereira, known as Poatan, is the reigning light heavyweight champion with a 13-4-0 record. The 38-year-old Brazilian stands six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach and lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy. His grappling output is minimal, averaging just 0.11 takedowns per 15 minutes, a factor De Fries may have had in mind when drawing stylistic comparisons.
Ngannou, the third fighter referenced in the discussion, carries an 18-3-0 record and holds the 12th spot in the pound-for-pound rankings. The Cameroonian stands six-foot-four with a massive 83-inch reach.
Why it matters
- Aspinall has openly pursued a superfight with Pereira, and this claim adds an unverified layer to those negotiations
- A potential matchup would pit two reigning champions from adjacent divisions against each other
- Aspinall's high-volume striking and active grappling represent a stylistically different threat from Ngannou's power-based approach
