Tom Aspinall meticulously builds his team, surrounding himself with fighters who mutually drive each other to excel. This dedicated approach has fostered an environment where training partners push each other to reach new heights.
Just last month, Aspinall displayed genuine emotion while witnessing his stablemate Ante Delija`s UFC debut in Paris. The heavyweight champion of the promotion underscored his deep commitment to his training partners by being cage-side during a significant night for his team, showing how invested he is in their success.
While Aspinall recently indicated he`d rather relinquish his championship than face Delija if such a conflict arose, Delija isn`t the only heavyweight the Brit trains with. Indeed, for many years, Aspinall has trained alongside another fighter who forged a remarkable career after a brief and somewhat overlooked tenure in the UFC more than a decade ago.
Phil De Fries` Incredible Journey: From UFC Release to 12 Heavyweight Title Defenses
Earlier this year, Tom Aspinall celebrated Phil De Fries` most recent victory, having been his training partner for several years. Despite past attempts by De Fries to secure high-profile crossover bouts, he has largely remained outside the mainstream spotlight for most MMA enthusiasts, a situation that belies his incredible achievements.
Between November 2011 and April 2013, De Fries competed in the UFC`s heavyweight division, achieving a 2-3 record before being cut from the roster. Notably, his first career loss was to none other than the future UFC champion Stipe Miocic.
De Fries subsequently fought for promotions like Bellator before eventually signing with the respected Polish organization KSW. His KSW debut occurred on the same night Dricus du Plessis first defeated Roberto Soldic, a night that would also mark a turning point in De Fries` career.
De Fries claimed the KSW heavyweight championship in his debut in April 2018 and has since maintained his top position in the division with an astounding 12 consecutive title defenses. This remarkable feat solidifies his status as one of MMA`s most dominant champions.
During this impressive run, he has defeated notable fighters such as Tomasz Narkun, Augusto Sakai, and Todd Duffee, the latter of whom had previously beaten him inside the Octagon back in 2012, showcasing De Fries` incredible growth and evolution as a fighter. Twelve consecutive title defenses are remarkable in any weight class, but for De Fries to achieve this feat in the heavyweight division, where fights can turn in an instant and power reigns supreme, is truly extraordinary and mind-boggling.
Phil De Fries Aims for 13th Title Defense This Saturday Night
This Saturday evening in the Czech Republic, Phil De Fries is set to compete in his second fight of 2025. The dominant champion will be striving for his 13th title defense as he faces Slovakian contender Stefan Vojcak in the main event.
Vojcak, a 35-year-old knockout artist with only 10 professional fights, faces a significant experience deficit against his opponent`s seasoned 27-6 record. This bout presents another opportunity for De Fries to demonstrate his enduring skill and dominance.
Having already established records for the most title fights and the longest winning streak in KSW history, De Fries, at 39 years old, intends to continue expanding his impressive statistics and solidify his legacy as one of the sport`s most consistent and successful heavyweights.
