Phil De Fries is considered the baddest man in Europe, and the KSW heavyweight champion would love to show that the king of European MMA is the ruler of the heavyweight world.
Picking the best fighters in the world is a subjective conversation, and it gets more complicated when debating the elites in certain regions. Plus, there are so many weight classes that even picking the best in a specific division creates a big debate. However, throughout the history of combat sports, heavyweight has always been the glamour division.
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It is the weight class that mainstream fans care the most about and has been the home of “the baddest men” on the planet for decades. And it is understandable because for as deadly as elite lightweights are, they would have a hard time winning a fight in a dark alley against a man close to 100 pounds heavier with world-class fight skills.
That is why when it comes to European MMA, it is hard to deny that KSW heavyweight champion Phil De Fries isn’t the baddest fighter on the continent. Especially since the UFC and Bellator veteran is unbeaten in nine title fights in the promotion. Furthermore, KSW is no small-time promotion trying to make its name in the sport.
The KSW rise of Europe’s ‘baddest man’
The Poland-based company is arguably the most notable in Europe and has proven it by selling out arenas throughout the region, including a May card when they sold over 45,000 tickets at the National Stadium in Warsaw. The company has carved out a place in the industry and it has brought Phil De Fries a level of notoriety in Poland, Europe, and around the sport.
“In Poland KSW is a huge brand,” De Fries told Sportsnaut. “So like, some people say, ‘Do you do UFC?’ [There] it’s like, ‘Do you do KSW?’ It’s a great big deal out there. It’s great to go over there and get recognized. But I’ve got a bit of name value in England as well. [KSW’s] growing all over. Anyone who knows fighting knows KSW.”
However, De Fries’ rise to the elite rung of cage-fighting did not come quickly. The 14-year veteran traveled the globe plying his trade and developed a reputation as a journeyman after starting his career 14-6 and being cut by the UFC after a 2-3 run a decade ago. However, part of his failures was due to a battle with anxiety that could be debilitating at times. It was a problem that had a huge affect on his life, especially his performance in the cage.
“I couldn’t learn before, I couldn’t think, it was like madness inside,” De Fries said. “It was just the adrenaline pushing me through. With my boxing, I couldn’t snap punches and relax. You’ve got to have a rhythm and be relaxed and I’ve only started learning that in the last few years.
“I couldn’t pick my shots. I couldn’t change my game plans mid-way through the fight. To beat that anxiety, over the last six years every fight I get better. I haven’t even reached my peak yet.”
With his anxiety issues a thing of the past he has evolved into one of the best heavyweights in the world and is making it difficult for KSW to find him viable championship competition. On July 15 at KSW 84, he will look to defend his heavyweight title for a ninth straight time against Szymon Bajor — a fighter De Fries says is “dangerous” in every facet of the MMA game.
Phil De Fries is itching for a heavyweight war of kings
Yet, if he can successfully defend his place at the top of the KSW mountain, his best chance of serious competition in the future is probably outside the company. But MMA has a very long history of being fractured with fiefdoms and unique universes that never intersect. Phil De Fries claims the hold-up in potential cross-promotion fights is not from the Polish side of the equation.
“I think KSW is very open to cross-promotion fights,” De Fries said. “I think it’s definitely something they’d consider. But these things are a lot easier to speak about than are to actually materialize. I would love a cross-promotion fight, say, me versus [former UFC champion Francis Ngannou]. Or me versus [Bellator champ Ryan] Bader, or go over to ONE Championship. I love Japan, Rizin would be great.”
While the KSW heavyweight king is equal parts hopeful and pessimistic on cross-promotion with competitors like ONE Championship, PFL, Bellator, and the UFC, De Fries said if long-term relationships with competitors can be forged, then nothing is impossible. And it is something Bellator and Japanese promotion Rizin FF have been able to prove in recent years with multiple co-promoted events.
However, if a clash between KSW’s best and the heavyweight champs of rival promotions could occur, Phil De Fries has a great deal of confidence he can prevail against the division’s elites. His confidence is partly based on conquering his anxiety issues of the past, but also from being tested by high-caliber training partners during each fight camp at TFT MMA.
One of those training partners is ranked UFC heavyweight top Aspinall, who will be headlining his own event in London the week after De Fries defends his heavyweight throne.
“I can beat anyone on my day. I think Tom Aspinall’s the best in the world. He’s going to show everybody he’s the best in the world over the next year and I mix it up well with him,” he said. “I have my days he has his. We have a great squad here.”
The Englishman’s KSW boss Martin Lewandowski is also a believer in his heavyweight king’s talent and is happy to have him represent his company.
“Phil De Fries has been an incredible champion both in and outside the cage,” Lewandowski told Sportsnaut. “He is one of the best heavyweights in the world today and having him as KSW heavyweight champ is an honor.”
KSW boss on De Fries in MMA free agency: ‘I will fight hard to keep him in KSW’
The 37-year-old admits that “the name of the game is making money” and that he will test his value in MMA free agency when his current contract ends. However, he has loyalty to KSW. As a fighter who has competed on multiple continents and for various promotions, he has seen the ugly side of the sport, but never during his tenure in KSW.
“[KSW have] always treated me honestly, they’ve always treated me right,” De Fries said. “They’ve never tried any funny business. I’ve fought for other big shows outside the UFC and a lot of them don’t sell out the stadiums. A lot of times you’re fighting and they’re half-full. KSW always sells out.
“I’ve been in the game a long time and some companies are a bit dirty. Some matchmakers are turds as well. I won’t deal with turds, I like honest, decent people. I’ll always test the water but [KSW has] got the best deal for me at the moment.”
Lewandowski understands losing De Fries in free agency is a possibility but he plans to do everything in his power to avoid losing one of the greatest fighters in KSW history.
“He is extremely important to the promotion. All of our champions and stars are,” Lewandowski said. “It’s paramount that, if an MMA organization truly wants to be seen as one of the top promotions in the world, they hold onto their champions. He has been in the UFC and Bellator already, and he wasn’t appreciated at all. We do things a little differently here in KSW. We celebrate all of our fighters.
“But, in the end, it will be Phil’s decision when the time comes. However, I will fight hard to keep him in KSW.”
KSW 84 begins at 1 PM ET and can be viewed in the US on KSWTV.com for $9.99.