Issue 207
July 2024
Phil De Fries has become synonymous with the KSW Heavyweight title. The Brit has occupied the 264lb throne for a staggering 2,281 days (and still counting) with 10 successful defenses. Here’s why his record-setting title reign breathed new life into the division and made him one of the most dominant and popular fighters in KSW’s history.
A bald, bulky man from Sunderland, England, De Fries doesn’t look like a top-tier heavyweight fighter. However, despite his mildly unathletic appearance, De Fries has outclassed all opposition inside KSW’s circular cage. He also has more fans than ever interested in the division, which was widely regarded as one big snoozefest. His story has highs and lows, as De Fries is no stranger to mental struggles, which plagued most of his life. He often recalls being bullied as a child and finding his outlet in martial arts. Unfortunately, his demons followed him around the world, making every fight a handicap match, where he faced both his opponent and anxiety. Through work and dedication, the Sunderland native overcame his mental issues and switched things around. His KSW stint proves that stormy days will end, and the sun will come out.
The Englishman became one of KSW’s top fighters and a record-setter whose achievements are unlikely to be overshadowed by anyone else. Such a feat is generally a rarity in heavyweight MMA, as title reigns at this particular weight class tend to be short. To fully comprehend the significance of De Fries’s reign, it’s wise to put the history of the KSW Heavyweight championship under the microscope.
THE DARK DAYS OF THE KSW HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION
For many years, the first name associated with the KSW heavyweight division was Mariusz Pudzianowski. The former strongman world champion successfully transitioned to MMA and took the division by storm. He began his fighting career at KSW 12 by taking on professional boxer Marcin Najman. He then squared off against various heavyweight and superheavyweight fighters, delivering what some may call simple entertainment for casual fans. The inaugural champion, Karol Bedorf, was crowned at KSW 24 by defeating 1992 Barcelona Judo Gold Medalist and PRIDE FC veteran Paweł Nastula. The fight was one-sided, with Nastula being pushed out of the ring, unable to stand up and continue. Bedorf defended the belt thrice, losing it to Fernando Rodrigues Jr. at KSW 37. The Brazilian fighter had a sole defense at KSW 39, as Marcin Różalski knocked him out in front of 57,000 fans in attendance at the Polish National Stadium in Warsaw. Things got worse as Różalski vacated the belt in July 2017, just two months after his win at the stadium event. KSW wasn’t eager to crown a new title holder. The only contender for the vacated belt was Michał Andryszak, who stopped Rodrigues Jr. at KSW 41.
ENTER DE FRIES
While KSW was hunting for its next champion, De Fries was a UFC and Bellator veteran who had found mixed results. His signing fit perfectly within KSW’s wheelhouse as the organization was known for offering contracts to fighters who had fought inside the Octagon. It also elevated the heavyweight title due to De Fries’s experience competing against top-tier opposition. During his UFC stint, De Fries’s anxiety has reached an all-time high, which he admitted during the interview with the Polish Youtuber Kizo. The Brit used to self-medicate by abusing marihuana and alcohol, which isn’t the best choice for a professional athlete.
“I was very, very sad, very broken at the time,” said De Fries. “When I was feeling anxious, or scared, or whatever, if I drank, it went away. It was twice as bad the next morning, but when I was drunk, I was happy.”
As he told The Mac Life, his mental state impacted his ability to compete at the highest level as he told The Mac Life.
“After I got cut from the UFC and had a couple of bad losses outside of the UFC, I was really quite down. Totally insane. I had cameras installed in my bedroom to make sure no one was going to steal me dog. I’d be at work and be like, ‘I gotta go home to make sure no one’s nicking me dog,’ or I’d check the door was locked 25 times. I thought, this is not normal.
“I googled irrational fear of everything, and it was like, ‘You’ve got anxiety.. Anxiety, I’ve heard about that. I got on a prescription, and I was so lucky that the prescription fixed me in three months. I had the best luck ever. After that, I haven’t lost a fight since.”
He credits a drug called Citalopram and therapy for bettering his mental state. He acknowledged that his anxiety affected the way he was fighting, which resulted in losses and, as a result - his release from the UFC. Signing with the KSW started a new chapter in his fighting career and personal life. In a press statement, De Fries was elated at this new chapter.
“It's great to sign with KSW. I’ve fought all over the world, and KSW is one of the biggest stages around. I’m the best I’ve ever been in my career right now. My training is going great, and I can’t wait to show people the best Phil De Fries yet.”
The Englishman made his promotional debut at KSW 43 in 2018. He knocked out Andryszak in the first round and became the new heavyweight champion after nine months of title vacancy. During his post-fight media scrum, De Fries joked that he would be “buried with the belt” and “it’s coming to the coffin.” His light-hearted, playful persona would become his trademark, endearing him to fans.
CHAMPION VS. CHAMPION CLASH
After defeating the former title holder Bedorf in front of his countrymen at KSW 45, De Fries found himself in the crosshairs of another champion: Tomasz Narkun. The then-current KSW light heavyweight champion was coming off two wins over Polish MMA legend Mamed Khalidov. He was no stranger to champion vs. champion affairs, as his first bout against Khalidov was a meeting between reigning light heavyweight and middleweight kingpins. After beating Khalidov, Narkun switched his attention to De Fries, hoping to realize his dream of becoming a two-division champion. KSW acknowledged the magnitude of the fight by posting an extended preview on the promotion’s website. At the end, it stated:
“The clash between Philip De Fries and Tomasz Narkun will be a collision of two KSW champions and two masters of ground fighting, who are highly skilled in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.”
However, Narkun managed to withstand De Fries' offense at the five-round distance. The Brit was awarded a unanimous decision win. The first bout against Narkun put De Fries on the top shelf of KSW’s roster. He proved his ability to carry the entire division on his back.
PUTTING AN END TO THE RIVALRY WITH NARKUN
Two additional wins over Luis Henrique and Michał Kita helped De Fries set a record for the most consecutive title defenses in KSW heavyweight division history. This brought much-needed stabilization to the weight class, as it seemed that the title wouldn’t change hands or be vacated anytime soon. The lack of worthy contenders in the 264lb weight class forced KSW to look for a different opponent for De Fries. This broadened horizon opened doors for Narkun to have a rematch in another champion vs. champion scrap. Since their first encounter, Narkun had defended his belt twice. However, this time, both champions showed genuine hatred toward one another.
During one of their media appearances, Narkun boldly claimed he would knock out the hulking Brit in the first or second round. De Fries replied that the Pole should check his IQ. At the weigh-ins, De Fries’s playful side showed again as he presented Narkun with the “Wrestling for Dummies” book. In the Pitbull West Coast clothing company’s video chronicling KSW 60, the Englishman said he wanted to educate his opponent on what he had in store for him.
Their KSW 60 fight ended in the second round, with De Fries punching a helpless Narkun on the ground. As before, the British fighter used his weight advantage to push and pin his opponent to the ground. During this part of his reign, De Fries showed his dominance and eagerness to take on all opposition. It was a breath of fresh air in the heavyweight division, as previously, finding someone to carry the belt for any amount of time was a problem. Now, the promotion had a problem finding anybody to fight for it.
DE FRIES CONTINUES DOMINANCE OF THE DIVISION
At that time, the reigning KSW heavyweight champion became more present on social media, showing the fans glimpses of his personal life. Even today, most fighters limit their social media activity to posting vague photos of their training routine, media appearances, etc. On the other hand, the Englishman let people know him as a caring husband and father who loves spending time with his family. He stated that the well-being of his family and his daughter's future motivates him to enter the cage to fight someone. And so, being at the top of his popularity, De Fries faced fellow UFC alumni Darko Stosic at KSW 67. The champion was the favorite in this matchup and won by submitting Stosic in the fifth round. Surprisingly, the contender presented a serious challenge, lasting longer than most of the Brit’s opponents. This was precisely what De Fries and the fans needed - a big adversary to overcome after a fierce battle. Like in any good story, a hero needs a strong opponent to defeat so they can grow. De Fries’s reign is still troubled by a lack of opponents. Some were swiftly dispatched by him within a couple of rounds. Others managed to withstand his offense but ultimately lost via decision due to being taken down and pinned to the ground. But what can be expected from a 264lb behemoth with a wrestling and submission grappling-based fighting style?
This was true with Ricardo Prasel and the rematch against Todd Duffee at KSW 79 in 2022. The two first met ten years earlier at UFC 155 when Duffee stopped De Fries in the first round. This time, the defending champion returned the favor by doing the same.
Leading to his fight at KSW 84, the promotion presented a “Day with Phil De Fries” video, where fans could learn even more about the reigning champion. The Brit was shown spending time with his family and sharing his hobby of collecting and painting Warhammer 40K Orcs army figures. A down-to-earth guy who has simple hobbies and likes to celebrate with beer was someone that most fans could root for.
De Fries defeated Szymon Bajor at KSW 84 and celebrated his way by chugging a pint of beer. The Brit is a well-known beer drinker and even stated during a YT short video that he prefers Polish beer over English. After beating Szymon Bajor at KSW 84, De Fries faced one of his most formidable opponents, Augusto Sakai, at KSW 95. Yet another former UFC fighter, Sakai holds victories over Andrei Arlovski and Poland’s own Marcin Tybura, among others. He proved a more significant challenge than De Fries’s former opposition, canceling the Brit’s takedown attempts throughout the fight. The Englishman forced through the 25-minute distance, securing a unanimous decision victory, but he wasn’t satisfied.
“I apologize that this fight wasn’t that entertaining,” said De Fries, acknowledging Sakai’s toughness. “I’ve tried my best, couldn’t get him down. He’s a great fighter, sorry, but thank you for coming.”
It was evidence that he wanted to win the fights in a fashion that excited the fans. He’s even tried to learn Polish and credits KSW for creating one of the happiest periods in his life. In an interview with KSWMMA.COM, De Fries reflected on his title reign:
“My favorite moment in this championship streak was winning the belt itself," admits Phil De Fries. "The fight with Andryszak terrified me. According to the bookmakers, he had ten times the chance of winning. Everyone thought I would be thrown to the lions, but ultimately, I turned out to be the lion. I created some beautiful memories and won the belt, which gave me this wonderful champion status. Now, I feel like the king of the world. I have money, a beautiful family, respect, and I feel happy. It's all thanks to KSW.”
PHILIP DE FRIES’S TITLE REIGN
The British fighter can be credited for saving the KSW heavyweight division. He not only did that but also pumped it up with his energetic personality and his unbeaten status. Ten consecutive wins with five TKO/KO finishes and three submissions is an impressive achievement. But what’s more, De Fries is willing to go for the finish no matter what. Thanks to his cardio, he can keep a good pace for a heavyweight. This puts him in opposition to most heavyweight fighters, who lose their breath just after a couple of minutes of action. There is a reason for a consensus among MMA fans that if a heavyweight fight doesn’t finish early, it will drag on in slow-motion mode to the last second. And luckily, Phil De Fries is an exception to that rule. Even his training partner and current UFC interim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall, pointed out the difference between Phil and other heavyweight competitors during the interview featured on the In the Cage YouTube channel:
“Phil is a seasoned veteran. And he’s very skillful. And most of the other heavyweights are not.”
He managed to carry the division on his back for the last six years and became its vocal point, pushing Pudzianowski back to the position of a freak fighter. It’s hard to say what the future holds for the reigning king of the KSW heavyweight division. The MMA landscape outside the UFC is challenging for all promoters to navigate. That makes every solid heavyweight fighter worth his weight in gold. It is safe to say that KSW will attempt to bring any UFC, PFL, or Bellator alums to challenge their champion. There will be a rematch against Stosic, that's for sure, but who will be next - only the KSW brass knows. And the champion will be ready to take on all of them. In his post-fight interview at KSW 84, the man said, “Let’s get anybody. Everybody can come and get it.”
With his potential victories in the future, De Fries will leave a legacy as the most dominant champion in KSW history. His reign isn’t just a chapter in the KSW history books; it's an epic saga filled with grit, determination, and plenty of pints.
With his iron will and an ever-growing fan base, Phil De Fries isn't just reigning—he’s redefining what it means to be a champion. Long live the king, and may his throne be forever unchallenged.
