Phil De Fries sees no reason to mess with a good thing.
The KSW heavyweight champion was able to defend his title this Saturday. He needed less than one round to defeat Todd Duffee, the challenger in the main event at KSW 79.. De Fries has become 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 latest win and said he’s heard KSW officials liked his suggestion that his next title defense be against heavyweight legend Alistair Overeem.
” I’d fight Francis [Ngannou], Put me there with all the crazy fighters,” De Fries replied when he was asked whether he would like KSW to bring in UFC superstar Francis Ngannou. I’ll take on anyone. Let’s try it. I think the Overeem fight, I think they’re in talks for that. It would be an amazing dream .”
KSW has already announced that KSW 83, which takes place June 3, will be a massive event staged at PGE Narodowy in Warsaw, Poland, and De Fries is confident a fight between he and Overeem would help pack the house.
“They’re shooting for that,” De Fries said. It’s a dream fight. He’s a legend. That would be enough to propel me up the 10. ladder. It would be a money fight, it would be a fight the fans want to see. .”
would make a great career highlight with 57% of the crowd.
Overeem has not competed in MMA since parting ways with the UFC in 2021. He most recently fought this past October, returning to the world of kickboxing for a blockbuster matchup with longtime rival Badr Hari at Glory: Collision 4. Overeem defeated Hari via unanimous decision.
Whoever De Fries faces for his next championship fight, there will undoubtedly be calls for him to test himself against competition in North America should he make it nine successful defenses in a row. De Fries doesn’t plan to join the UFC middle pack, though he feels his talents would be a worthy contender.
” You know what I do and what a lot people don’t: I can grapple and I’m there with Tom Aspinall. Tom Aspinall has been the greatest wrestler I have ever seen, by far,” De Fries stated. “I’m mixing it up with him. “I can beat anybody on my day.
“But, like I mentioned earlier, how far would I go to get a title shot in the UFC Four or five years maybe, if I had an amazing trajectory. I’ll be 41, 42 then. This game is a great way to get older quickly. Although I don’t feel old, you never know what might happen .”
De Fries previously competed for the UFC from 2011-2013, where he went 2-3 (including a loss to Duffee). De Fries was suffering from anxiety problems that were untreated for many years. It was an extremely difficult time in his life.
Now, De Fries is in a more stable headspace which is what he credits for his success. He’s also grateful to KSW and expects to maintain that working relationship until his fighting days are over.
“KSW was nothing but amazing to me,” De Fries stated. “I feel respected, I feel valued, I’m well-paid. If they have issues with me, they talk to me, they don’t fly about with everyone backstage, it’s great. KSW is where I will finish my career.
” If I were to return to UFC it would likely take me four years to get there, as if we had to go through a Tom Aspinall course. Forget what I’m getting paid now, and I’ll be, like, 41 then. It’s impossible to predict what might happen but it’s not happening right now. KSW treats me great. They always sell out the stadiums, they promote you well, they’re just cool and great production values and I still think there’s great fights for me there.”
Source: https://www.mmafighting.com/2023/3/2/23617437/phil-de-fries-not-eyeing-ufc-return-with-ksw-success-targets-alistair-overeem-june-colosseum-event?rand=96749
