Tag: Phil De Fries

Former UFC champ Josh Barnett to meet KSW champ Phil De Fries in Feb. 24 submission grappling match

A return to competition is imminent for former UFC champ Josh Barnett, who meets Phil De Fries in a grappling match later this month.

A return to competition is imminent for former UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Josh Barnett[/autotag], who will take on current KSW heavyweight champ [autotag]Phil De Fries[/autotag] in a submission grappling match at “KSW: Epic” on Feb. 24 in Gliwice, Poland.

KSW announced the matchup Friday on social media.

Barnett, 46, hasn’t competed in MMA since September 2016, but he’s sparingly partaken in grappling matches. He most recently competed at the 2023 Catch Wrestling World Championship event in October, losing a decision against Owen Livesey.

De Fries, a one-time Bellator and former UFC fighter, has proven to be KSW’s greatest champion with nine consecutive title defenses dating back to October 2018. De Fries, 37, most recently defeated Szymon Bajor by rear-naked choke technical submission last July at KSW 84.

Phil De Fries def. Szymon Bajor at KSW 83: Best photos

Check out these photos highlighting Phil De Fries technical submission win over Szymon Bajor at KSW 83 in Poland.

Check out these photos highlighting [autotag]Phil De Fries[/autotag] technical submission win over Szymon Bajor at KSW 83 from Polsat Plus Arena in Gdynia, Poland. (Photos courtesy of KSW)

KSW 84: Phil De Fries’ dominance continues with technical submission of Szymon Bajor

Make it nine consecutive title defenses for Phil De Fries, who had another great performance at KSW 84.

KSW 84 took place Saturday, and you can check out the complete results right here.

The event took place at Polsat Plus Arena in Gdynia, Poland, and streamed on pay-per-view.

In the main event, heavyweight champion [autotag]Phil De Fries[/autotag] (24-6) went for his ninth consecutive title defense against challenger [autotag]Szymon Bajor[/autotag] (24-10).

Full KSW 84 results and video highlights are below:

KSW boss pitches PFL co-promotion for Francis Ngannou vs. champ Phil De Fries

KSW hopes the PFL is willing to put together a cross-promotion bout putting Francis Ngannou vs. its best heavyweight

The rest of [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag]’s year will be focused on his anticipated boxing match with Tyson Fury. Once that’s complete, though, he is expected to return to MMA and debut in the PFL.

After concluding his UFC contract and splitting from the promotion earlier this year, Ngannou (17-3) signed with PFL for an expected debut in early 2024. There’s no clear-cut opponent for him, however, and KSW co-owner Martin Lewandowski has a pitch involving his current heavyweight champion, [autotag]Phil De Fries[/autotag].

โ€œFor me, Phil De Fries is one of the best heavyweights on the planet today. He is a different animal than when he was in the UFC last, and he would give anyone in the whole division trouble,” Lewandowski told MMA Junkie. “Outside the UFC, there are not many heavyweights who can offer a legit test to Ngannou. Of course, it needs to makes sense for both KSW and PFL. But I am in good contact with Ray Sefo and the PFL, and would be willing to do what I can to get it done.”

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Multiple scenarios must play out before a KSW and PFL cross-promotion could materialize. First and foremost, De Fries (23-6) must successfully achieve his ninth consecutive title defense Saturday when he meets Szymon Bajor (24-9) in the main event of KSW 84, which takes place at Gdynia Arena in Poland and streams on pay-per-view via KSW’s official website.

Secondly, Ngannou, who takes on Fury in a 10-round bout on Oct. 28 in Saudi Arabia, must be keen to return to competition after securing what’s expected to be a massive payday from the Fury fight.

De Fries hasn’t lost since May 2017, and Lewandowski sees him as a more significant threat to Ngannou than anyone currently on PFL’s roster.

“I would be open to having a crossover fight with PFL for Phil to fight Francis Ngannou,” Lewandowski said. “If he passes this test, it will be his 12th straight victory, his 10th straight win in KSW, and his ninth title defense. He has already made history by being the longest reigning champion ever in KSW and the heavyweight with the most title defenses in any of the major MMA promotions.

“After Francis is finished with Tyson Fury, how about an actual MMA fight with the KSW heavyweight champion?”

KSW 79 results: Heavyweight champ Phil De Fries spoils Todd Duffee’s return, runs through him for revenge

Phil De Fries promised his rematch with Todd Duffee at KSW 79 would turn out differently, and he was right.

[autotag]Phil De Fries[/autotag] promised his rematch with [autotag]Todd Duffee[/autotag] would turn out differently. Boy was he right.

De Fries ran through Duffee on Saturday at KSW 79 in Liberec, Czech Republic. The heavyweight champ dominated from start to finish until he used vicious ground-and-pound to force referee Michael Bell to stop it 3 minutes and 46 seconds into the first round.

The outcome was disappointing for Duffee (9-4), who was fighting for the first time since retiring three-and-a-half years ago. On the flip side, it was sweet revenge for De Fries (23-6), who lost by first-round TKO to Duffee more than 10 years ago at UFC 155.

“It feels good, you know,” De Fries said afterward. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Todd. He’s a great fighter, but I’m the man now, and that’s the way it’s gonna stay.”

From the moment the opening bell rang, De Fries left zero doubt about making his eighth consecutive KSW heavyweight title defense. When Duffee threw an early haymaker that whiffed, he closed the distance right into a takedown by De Fries, who proceeded to be relentless with his attacks and transitions. Duffee did what he could to stagger back to his feet, but De Fries never let up with his attack while draped on Duffee’s back. Once he dragged Duffee back to the mat, De Fries worked for a neck crank and rear-naked choke that, at one point, appeared tight. Duffee hung on, though, but De Fries ultimately back mounted him and flattened him out on his stomach. With Duffee unable to get free, De Fries dropped right hands over and over until the referee had no choice but to stop it.

Afterward, De Fries turned his attention toward a June 3 stadium show in Warsaw, Poland, where he made it clear that he would like to fight Alistair Overeem.

“That’s the day,” De Fries said. “Me, Overeem, 56,000 people, good times.”

UFC veterans in MMA, boxing and bareknuckle action Feb. 24-25

Check out which veterans of the UFC are in MMA and boxing action this weekend across the globe.

The UFC is back in Las Vegas for UFC Fight Night 220. The event takes place at the UFC Apex, with a light heavyweight tilt between Nikita Krylov and Ryan Spann.

Elsewhere, many other MMA events are taking place that feature familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

These 14 veterans of the global MMA leader are competing in MMA boxing this week from Feb. 24-25.

Check out the names and details about their bouts below.

Upcoming event information fromย Tapology.

KSW 79 video: Phil De Fries, Todd Duffee set stage for heavyweight title rematch

Watch as Phil De Fries and Todd Duffee weigh in on their rematch 11 years in the making at KSW 79 in the Czech Republic.

KSW 79 takes place Saturday, Feb. 25 at Home Credit Arena in Liberec, Czech Republic, which marks the return of UFC veteran [autotag]Todd Duffee[/autotag] as he gets set for a rematch with heavyweight champion [autotag]Phil De Fries[/autotag].

The two big men first met way back in December 2012 at UFC 155, where Duffee (9-3) handed De Fries (22-6) a brutal defeat by first-round TKO. Things have changed drastically since then, with 36-year-old De Fries riding a 10-fight winning streak and going for his eighth consecutive title defense, while Duffee, 37, is coming out of retirement to compete for the first time in three-and-a-half years.

You can watch the trailer for KSW 79 in the video above as both men talk about their past encounter, what’s different now, revenge, and more.

“Knock him out cold, just for that sweet revenge feeling,” De Fries said. “That would be perfect.”

Added Duffee: “Phil’s best side is he’s willing to do whatever it takes to win even though that means being the most boring guy in the room. I’m gonna make the KSW heavyweight division exciting again.”

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Phil De Fries seeks ‘the money fight and the big eyes fight’ with Mariusz Pudzianowski after KSW 74

With six KSW title defenses under his belt, Phil De Fries wants a marquee matchup with Mariusz Pudzianowski in the near future.

[autotag]Phil De Fries[/autotag] is focused on Saturday’s KSW 74 main event title fight with Ricardo Prasel, but he’d be lying if he said there wasn’t another matchup on his mind for after.

De Fries (21-6), the reigning KSW heavyweight champion, is set to make his seventh title defense against Prasel (13-3) at Arena Ostrow in Poland. The event streams via online pay-per-view on the KSW website.

With challenges running thin, De Fries is looking for something unique going forward. There are few people more unique in MMA than former multi-time World’s Strongest Man winner [autotag]Mariusz Pudzianowski[/autotag] (17-7), who has become an icon under the KSW banner.

“I wanted Pudzian,” De Fries told MMA Junkie. “I think ‘Pudzian’ is the No. 1 contender. He’s on a five-fight winning streak. Also, he’s the money fight and the big eyes fight. Maybe I’m just saying that to get the fight.

“They want the ‘Pudzian’ fight, but I think ‘Pudzian’ wants loads of money to do it. I don’t blame him. Like, why? He can get paid a fortune to fight non-ranked guys or wrestlers. So why fight a guy who is dangerous when you can get the same money elsewhere? So he wants them to pay him, and I want a little bit extra. I have nothing but respect for ‘Pudzian.’ I would love to fight him.”

Whether De Fries’ desired matchup comes to fruition or not remains to be seen. First he has to get through Prasel, who brings a dangerous ground game to the table. Fortunately, De Fries said there’s nothing his opponent offers that he doesn’t see training on a daily basis.

“You get these specialists like Ricardo and a better version of him, Paul Craig,” De Fries said. “To my advantage, I get to train with Paul Craig all the time โ€“ the best guy in the world doing this sh*t. So these aren’t tricks to me. This is real life.”

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These UFC veterans are in MMA and bareknuckle action Sept. 9-11

Check out which veterans of the UFC are competing in promotions across the globe this weekend.

The UFC returns to Las Vegas for a pay-per-view event at T-Mobile Arena.

[autotag]Nate Diaz[/autotag] will compete in possibly the final fight of his UFC career against [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag] in the main event of UFC 279 on Sept. 10.

Outside of the UFC, there are a number of MMA and bareknuckle events taking place that feature many familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

This week, there are nine veterans of the global leader competing this weekend from Sept. 9-11.

Check out the names and details about their bouts below.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

Phil De Fries set to defend heavyweight title vs. Ricardo Prasel at KSW 74

KSW champion Phil De Fries has his next title defense booked.

(Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Sept. 4 as the date of KSW 74. It has been corrected.)

[autotag]Phil De Fries[/autotag] has his next title fight booked.

The KSW heavyweight champion will return Sept. 10 at KSW 74 to defend his belt against [autotag]Ricardo Prasel[/autotag]. Promotion officials informed MMA Junkie of the news Monday.

The bout marks De Fries’ seventh consecutive title defense. The 36-year-old won the KSW belt in 2018 with a TKO win over Michal Andryszak and since has maintained his status as champion. De Fries (21-6)ย  is on an impressive nine-fight winning streak overall. He’s 12-3 since leaving the UFC in 2013.

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Meanwhile, Brazil’s Prasel (13-3) is on a two-fight winning streak, with his last victory against former UFC fighter Daniel Omielanczuk. Prasel was featured on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2019 when he suffered a first-round stoppage loss to Don’Tale Mayes.

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