Phil de Fries, a teammate of Tom Aspinall, has claimed that Alex Pereira previously declined an opportunity to fight Aspinall. De Fries stated that while he believes Aspinall is better than Ciryl Gane, the matchups present different stylistic challenges. He suggested that a fight between Aspinall and Pereira would be excellent for Tom. The post asks which fighter would be a more difficult stylistic matchup for Pereira. This claim adds to ongoing speculation about potential heavyweight matchups involving the interim champion.
A teammate of UFC heavyweight interim champion Tom Aspinall has claimed, without official confirmation, that light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira turned down an opportunity to fight the Englishman.
Phil de Fries, who trains alongside Aspinall at Team Kaobon, made the assertion publicly, adding that while he rates Aspinall above Ciryl Gane in overall quality, the two fighters present Pereira with distinct stylistic problems. De Fries suggested a matchup between Aspinall and Pereira would be a tremendous opportunity for his teammate.
Aspinall, 33, carries a 15-3-0 record and holds interim heavyweight gold, ranking sixth in the pound-for-pound standings. Standing six-foot-five with a 78-inch reach, the orthodox Englishman is one of the most prolific strikers in the division, landing 7.63 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 67 percent accuracy. He also adds a credible grappling threat, averaging 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Gane, nicknamed Bon Gamin, is ranked second in the heavyweight division at 14-2-0. The 36-year-old Frenchman out of MMA Factory stands six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach and lands 5.29 significant strikes per minute at 61 percent accuracy, relying far less on the wrestling game than Aspinall.
Pereira, 38, is the reigning light heavyweight champion from Brazil with a 13-4-0 record. Standing six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach, "Poatan" lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy and has minimal grappling output, averaging just 0.11 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Aspinall's interim heavyweight title status makes any potential cross-division or undisputed matchup a major talking point
- Pereira's near-total reliance on striking, at 0.11 takedowns per 15 minutes, would be tested by Aspinall's 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes
- A confirmed Pereira declination, if substantiated, could shape the direction of both the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions
- The claim remains unverified and should be treated as a report rather than confirmed fact
