Phil De Fries, a teammate of Tom Aspinall, stated that Alex Pereira previously turned down an opportunity to face Aspinall. De Fries indicated this would have been an excellent matchup for Tom. The post asks followers to weigh in on which heavyweight presents a more difficult stylistic challenge for Pereira: Aspinall or Francis Ngannou. De Fries suggested he believes Tom is better than Ngannou, noting that different opponents present different stylistic problems. No timeline or additional context about when this potential matchup was discussed was provided in the post.
A teammate of UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has claimed that light heavyweight king Alex Pereira previously turned down a fight with Aspinall — though the report remains unconfirmed and comes without any official backing.
Phil De Fries, who trains alongside Aspinall at Team Kaobon, made the claim on social media, stating that Pereira had declined what De Fries described as an excellent opportunity to face his teammate. De Fries also weighed in on a stylistic debate, suggesting Aspinall poses a tougher challenge for Pereira than Francis Ngannou does, while acknowledging that both heavyweights present different problems.
Aspinall, 33, holds a 15-3-0 record and currently sits sixth in the pound-for-pound rankings. The Englishman is one of the most statistically dominant strikers in the division, landing 7.63 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 67 percent accuracy — figures that rank among the best in the sport. He also adds consistent grappling pressure, averaging 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Pereira, 38, carries a 13-4-0 record and holds the light heavyweight title under the banner of Teixeira MMA and Fitness. The Brazilian lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy, and his knockout power has made him one of the most feared strikers across any weight class. A move up to heavyweight for such a matchup would represent a significant size jump for Poatan.
Ngannou, 38, holds an 18-3-0 record and carries an 83-inch reach — the longest of the three fighters — and is widely regarded as one of the hardest punchers in combat sports history.
Why it matters
- Pereira has shown willingness to compete at heavyweight before, making this rumor credible to some observers
- Aspinall's combination of elite striking volume, accuracy, and takedown ability presents a uniquely complex stylistic puzzle
- Any confirmed matchup between Pereira and Aspinall would be a cross-divisional title clash with pound-for-pound implications for both men
