Phil de Fries, a teammate of Tom Aspinall, stated that Alex Pereira previously declined an opportunity to fight Tom. De Fries believes Aspinall is better than Ciryl Gane and that opponents present different stylistic challenges for Pereira. The post asks which fighter would be a more difficult stylistic matchup for Poatan between Aspinall and Gane. Details about when or under what circumstances Pereira allegedly turned down the Aspinall fight were not provided in the post.
Phil de Fries, a training partner of UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, has reportedly claimed that light heavyweight king Alex Pereira previously turned down a fight with the Englishman — though no details about when or under what circumstances that alleged refusal occurred have been provided.
De Fries also went on record stating he believes Aspinall would present a tougher stylistic test for Pereira than Ciryl Gane, while acknowledging that both heavyweights offer distinct challenges for the Brazilian champion. Because these claims come from a teammate rather than any official source, the report should be treated as unconfirmed.
Aspinall, 33, holds a 15-3 record and currently sits sixth in the pound-for-pound rankings. The Team Kaobon product out of England stands six-foot-five with a 78-inch reach and is one of the most prolific strikers in the division, landing 7.63 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 67 percent accuracy while also averaging 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Gane, nicknamed Bon Gamin, is ranked second in the heavyweight division at 36 years old with a 14-2 record. The Frenchman checks in at six-foot-four with an exceptional 81-inch reach, landing 5.29 significant strikes per minute at 61 percent accuracy for MMA Factory.
Pereira holds a 13-4 record and is the reigning light heavyweight champion at 38 years old. The Brazilian, known as Poatan, stands six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach and averages 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy. His ground engagement is minimal, averaging just 0.11 takedowns and 0.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making stand-up matchups the central concern in any stylistic breakdown.
Why it matters
- Aspinall has yet to secure a high-profile unification or cross-division superfight despite holding heavyweight gold
- A Pereira refusal, if confirmed, raises questions about which direction the light heavyweight champion is willing to go
- The striking-heavy profiles of all three fighters make any potential matchup a compelling stylistic debate at the top of the men's divisions
