Phil de Fries, a teammate and friend of Tom Aspinall, has claimed that Alex Pereira previously turned down the opportunity to fight Aspinall. De Fries stated that he believes Aspinall is better than Francis Ngannou and that stylistically different opponents present different challenges. He suggested that a fight between Aspinall and Pereira would be excellent for the British heavyweight. The post sparked debate about which heavyweight would pose a more difficult stylistic challenge for Pereira. Details about when this alleged offer occurred or the specific circumstances are limited in the original statement.
Phil de Fries, a teammate and friend of undefeated UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, has claimed that light heavyweight king Alex Pereira previously turned down the chance to fight Aspinall — though the specific circumstances and timing of the alleged offer remain unclear.
De Fries, who trains alongside Aspinall at Team Kaobon, made the assertion publicly, sparking immediate debate in MMA circles. The claim has not been officially confirmed by Pereira's camp, the UFC, or any other party, and should be treated as unverified for now.
Aspinall, 33, holds a 15-3 record and sits sixth in the pound-for-pound rankings. The six-foot-five Englishman is one of the most active strikers in the heavyweight division, landing 7.63 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 67 percent accuracy, while also averaging 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes. De Fries also stated his belief that Aspinall is a superior fighter to Francis Ngannou, a well-credentialed heavyweight who stands six-foot-four with an 83-inch reach and carries an 18-3 record.
Pereira, known as Poatan, is 38 years old and holds a 13-4 record while reigning as the UFC light heavyweight champion. The six-foot-four Brazilian carries a 79-inch reach and lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy. He has almost no takedown or submission activity, making him a pure stand-up threat.
Why it matters
- A potential superfight between two reigning UFC champions across different weight classes would be a massive commercial event.
- Aspinall's elite striking volume and grappling threat presents a stylistically distinct challenge compared to most of Pereira's recent opponents.
- If Pereira did decline, it raises questions about the feasibility of an Aspinall superfight and how the UFC might structure heavyweight title defenses going forward.
