Tom Aspinall's training partner, Phil De Fries, stated that Alex Pereira previously turned down an opportunity to fight Tom Aspinall. De Fries acknowledged that while he believes Tom is better than Ciryl Gane, different opponents present different stylistic challenges for fighters. He suggested that a fight between Aspinall and Pereira would have been an excellent matchup for Tom. The post invited fans to vote on which fighter would present a more difficult stylistic challenge for Pereira between Aspinall and Gane. This revelation adds context to ongoing discussions about potential heavyweight matchups and Pereira's willingness to move up in weight.
Phil De Fries, training partner to UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, has claimed that light heavyweight king Alex Pereira previously turned down the chance to fight Aspinall — though the report remains unconfirmed and should be treated as a rumour at this stage.
Aspinall, 33, holds the UFC heavyweight title with a record of 15-3-0 and is ranked sixth in the pound-for-pound standings. The six-foot-five Englishman, who trains out of Team Kaobon, is one of the most dangerous finishers in the division, landing an eye-catching 7.63 significant strikes per minute at 67 percent accuracy, while also averaging 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes. De Fries acknowledged that despite believing Aspinall is the better fighter overall, different opponents create different stylistic problems, and suggested a matchup with Pereira would have suited Aspinall particularly well.
Pereira, 38, is the reigning light heavyweight champion out of Brazil with a record of 13-4-0. Standing six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, "Poatan" is a devastating striker who lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy. A potential move to heavyweight to face Aspinall would represent a significant step up in both weight and opposition, and De Fries' claim raises questions about Pereira's appetite for that challenge.
Adding further context to the conversation, De Fries also referenced the contrasting styles of Pereira's current opponents. The number-two ranked heavyweight contender Ciryl Gane — nicknamed "Bon Gamin" — carries a 14-2-0 record and fights out of France's MMA Factory. The six-foot-four Gane boasts an exceptional 81-inch reach and lands 5.29 significant strikes per minute, making him a fluid, technical striker with a very different profile to the explosive Aspinall.
Why it matters
- If accurate, the claim suggests Pereira has already had the option to challenge at heavyweight and passed.
- A Pereira versus Aspinall crossover fight would carry title implications in two divisions.
- The stylistic contrast between Aspinall's pressure-heavy, high-output game and Gane's range-based movement presents genuinely different problems for Pereira's striking-first approach.
