Phil De Fries, a training partner of Tom Aspinall, stated that Alex Pereira previously turned down an opportunity to fight Aspinall. De Fries expressed his belief that Aspinall is a better fighter than Francis Ngannou and would represent a stylistically different challenge for Pereira. The post includes a poll asking fans which heavyweight presents a more difficult stylistic matchup for Pereira between Aspinall and Ngannou. No additional context or timeline for the alleged offer was provided in the original post.
A training partner of UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has claimed, without official confirmation, that Alex Pereira previously turned down a fight against Aspinall — adding fresh fuel to speculation about a potential crossover bout between two of the sport's most decorated champions.
Phil De Fries, who trains alongside Aspinall at Team Kaobon, made the assertion publicly, though no timeline or additional details about the alleged offer were provided. The claim has not been confirmed by either fighter's camp or the UFC, and should be treated as unverified.
Aspinall, 33, holds the UFC heavyweight title and carries a 15-3 record. The Englishman, standing six-foot-five with a 78-inch reach, is one of the division's most technically complete fighters, landing 7.63 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 67 percent — elite numbers for any weight class. He also averages 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him a credible threat in multiple areas. He sits sixth in the pound-for-pound rankings.
Pereira, 38, is the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion and holds a 13-4 record. Known by the nickname Poatan, the Brazilian stands six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach and lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy. His takedown and submission output is minimal, reflecting a game built almost entirely around striking and finishing power.
De Fries also stated his belief that Aspinall would present a more difficult stylistic matchup for Pereira than Francis Ngannou, whose 18-3 record and 83-inch reach make him a physically imposing presence but whose recent activity and fighting context differ considerably.
Why it matters
- Pereira has discussed moving to heavyweight, making any fight offer between the two champions a credible storyline
- Aspinall's combination of volume striking and wrestling would differ sharply from Pereira's typical opposition
- If the claim is accurate, it raises questions about whether a superfight has already been explored behind the scenes
- The pound-for-pound implications of such a matchup would be significant for both men's legacies
