Phil de Fries, a teammate of Tom Aspinall, has claimed that Alex Pereira previously turned down an opportunity to fight Aspinall. De Fries stated he believes Aspinall is better than Ciryl Gane and noted that stylistically, different opponents present different challenges. He suggested that a fight with Aspinall would have been excellent for the heavyweight contender. The post does not provide additional context or details about when this alleged offer occurred or the circumstances surrounding Pereira's decision.
Phil de Fries, a teammate of UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall at Team Kaobon, has claimed that light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira previously turned down a chance to fight Aspinall — though the report remains unconfirmed and lacks details on when or how any such offer was made.
Aspinall, 33, holds the UFC heavyweight title and sits sixth in the pound-for-pound rankings with a 15-3 record. Standing six-foot-five with a 78-inch reach, the Englishman is one of the most technically complete heavyweights in the sport, landing 7.63 significant strikes per minute at an exceptional 67 percent striking accuracy while also averaging 2.62 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Pereira, known as Poatan, is 38 years old and holds the UFC light heavyweight title with a 13-4 record. The Brazilian stands six-foot-four with a 79-inch reach and lands 5.16 significant strikes per minute at 62 percent accuracy. Moving up to heavyweight to face Aspinall would represent a significant step up in both size and competition.
De Fries also remarked that he believes Aspinall is a superior fighter to Ciryl Gane, the number-two ranked heavyweight contender. Gane, 36, carries a 14-2 record and brings elite technical striking of his own, landing 5.29 significant strikes per minute across his UFC career. The Frenchman stands six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach.
Why it matters
- Aspinall has struggled to secure a high-profile opponent, making any claim about declined fights a notable talking point in the heavyweight division.
- A cross-divisional clash between two reigning champions would carry significant pound-for-pound implications.
- De Fries' comments add public pressure on the heavyweight landscape without any official confirmation from Pereira's camp or the UFC.
