Phil De Fries sees no motive to mess with a superb factor.
The KSW heavyweight champion efficiently defended his title for the eighth consecutive time this previous Saturday, needing lower than a spherical to get rid of challenger Todd Duffee in the principle occasion of KSW 79. De Fries has grow to be a star for the Polish promotion, having gone undefeated since making his debut in April 2018.
De Fries appeared on The MMA Hour following his newest win and stated he’s heard KSW officers appreciated his suggestion that his subsequent title protection be towards heavyweight legend Alistair Overeem.
“I’d struggle Francis [Ngannou], put me in there with all you loopy fighters,” De Fries stated when requested if he’d prefer to see KSW usher in lately launched UFC star Francis Ngannou. “I’ll struggle anybody on the planet. I can grapple, let’s do it. I feel the Overeem struggle, I feel they’re in talks for that. That might be a dream come true.”
KSW has already introduced that KSW 83, which takes place June 3, might be a large occasion staged at PGE Narodowy in Warsaw, Poland, and De Fries is assured a struggle between he and Overeem would assist pack the home.
“They’re taking pictures for that,” De Fries stated. “That could be a dream struggle for me. He’s a legend. I feel that might propel me into the highest 10. It might be a cash struggle, it could be a struggle the followers wish to see. Fifty-seven thousand individuals sitting there, what a profession spotlight that might be.”
Overeem has not competed in MMA since parting methods with the UFC in 2021. He most lately fought this previous October, returning to the world of kickboxing for a blockbuster matchup with longtime rival Badr Hari at Glory: Collision 4. Overeem defeated Hari through unanimous determination.
Whoever De Fries faces for his subsequent championship struggle, there’ll undoubtedly be requires him to check himself towards competitors in North America ought to he make it 9 profitable defenses in a row. Nevertheless, De Fries has no plans to leap into the center of the pack of one other promotion just like the UFC, regardless that he believes his abilities would make him a contender anyplace.
“You recognize what I do, what lots of people can’t — I can grapple, and I’m in there with Tom Aspinall, and Tom Aspinall is the perfect I’ve ever seen on any mat in all my profession by a protracted margin,” De Fries stated. “I’m mixing it up with him. On my day, I can beat anybody.
“However like I stated, how far-off from a title shot would I be within the UFC? 4 or 5 years perhaps, if I had an incredible trajectory. I’ll be 41, 42 then. And this recreation, you may get outdated in a single day. I’m not feeling outdated although, however you by no means know when that may occur.”
De Fries beforehand competed for the UFC from 2011-2013, the place he went 2-3 (together with a loss to Duffee). It was a tumultuous time in De Fries’ life, as he was suffering from nervousness points that went unaddressed for years.
Now, De Fries finds himself in a steadier headspace, which he attributes a lot of his success to. He’s additionally grateful to KSW and expects to keep up that working relationship till his combating days are over.
“KSW has been nothing however nice to me,” De Fries stated. “I really feel revered, I really feel valued, I’m well-paid. If they’ve points with me, they speak to me, they don’t fly about with everybody backstage, it’s nice. It’s seemingly I end my profession with KSW.
“If I did return to UFC, it could most likely take us 4 years, like on a Tom Aspinall collision course as much as the highest. Neglect what I’m getting paid now, and I’ll be, like, 41 then. You by no means know what’s going to occur, however I’m very joyful the place I’m at. KSW treats me nice. They at all times promote out the stadiums, they promote you properly, they’re simply cool and nice manufacturing values and I nonetheless assume there’s nice fights for me there.”
