Phil de Fries, teammate of Tom Aspinall, stated that Alex Pereira previously turned down an opportunity to face Tom Aspinall. De Fries believes Aspinall is superior to Cyril Gane and that stylistically different opponents present unique challenges. The post poses a question to followers about which heavyweight would be a more difficult stylistic matchup for Pereira. Details about when this alleged offer was made or the specific circumstances 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 a fight with Aspinall — though no official confirmation of that alleged offer has emerged.
De Fries made the remarks publicly, also asserting that Aspinall presents a tougher stylistic test than Cyril Gane, and framing the post as a question to his followers about which heavyweight would give Pereira a more difficult matchup. The specific timing of the supposed offer and the circumstances surrounding it remain unclear.
Aspinall, 33, holds the UFC heavyweight title and carries a 15-3 record. The Team Kaobon product out of England stands six-foot-five with a 78-inch reach and has been one of the division's most productive strikers, landing 7.63 significant strikes per minute at an exceptional 67 percent accuracy. He also averages 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes, adding a well-rounded threat to his already dangerous stand-up game.
Pereira, nicknamed Poatan, is the reigning light heavyweight champion from Brazil with a 13-4 record. The 38-year-old 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, which makes the stylistic contrast with Aspinall notable.
Why it matters
- A potential super-fight between two reigning champions would carry significant cross-divisional stakes
- Aspinall's grappling volume could represent a dimension Pereira has rarely been tested by at this level
- The report is unconfirmed and sourced from a teammate rather than either fighter's camp or the UFC
- Pereira holds a slight reach advantage at 79 inches compared to Aspinall's 78 inches, despite fighting at a lower weight class
