Phil De Fries, a training partner of Tom Aspinall, stated that Alex Pereira previously turned down an opportunity to face Aspinall. De Fries commented that while he believes Aspinall is better than Ciryl Gane, the stylistic matchup between fighters varies. He posed a question to fans about which heavyweight would present a more difficult stylistic challenge for Pereira. The post suggests this would have been an attractive fight for Aspinall had it materialized. No timeline was provided for when Pereira allegedly declined the matchup.
A teammate of UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has claimed, without providing a specific timeline, that light heavyweight king Alex Pereira previously turned down the chance to fight Aspinall — a report that has not been officially confirmed by any of the parties involved.
The claim came from Phil De Fries, a training partner of Aspinall at Team Kaobon. De Fries also used the moment to pose a question to fans about which heavyweight — Aspinall or Ciryl Gane — would represent the tougher stylistic test for Pereira, while making clear he believes Aspinall is the superior fighter of the two.
Aspinall, 33, holds the UFC heavyweight title and sits sixth in the pound-for-pound rankings on the strength of a 15-3 record. The six-foot-five Englishman is one of the most productive strikers in the division, landing 7.63 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 67 percent accuracy, and also threatens consistently with takedowns at a rate of 2.62 per fifteen minutes.
Gane, ranked second in the heavyweight division at 36 years old, carries a 14-2 record and brings a different profile to the matchup discussion. The French contender stands six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach — the longest of the three fighters mentioned — and lands 5.29 significant strikes per minute at 61 percent accuracy, relying far less on the grappling game than Aspinall.
Pereira, 38, is the reigning light heavyweight champion out of Brazil with a 13-4 record. Standing six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, "Poatan" averages 5.16 significant strikes per minute and has built his reputation almost entirely on his striking, registering just 0.11 takedowns per fifteen minutes.
Why it matters
- Aspinall has been vocal about wanting high-profile fights, and a cross-division clash with Pereira would carry significant commercial weight.
- Pereira moving up to heavyweight, even temporarily, would have major rankings implications in both divisions.
- The stylistic contrast is stark: Aspinall's grappling-heavy, high-output game versus Pereira's knockout-oriented stand-up.
- Because this story remains unconfirmed, no official negotiations or agreements should be assumed.
