Phil De Fries vs Todd Duffee
Home Credit Arena, Liberec, Czech Republic
Where to watch: ESPN+, viaplay
Main Card: February 26, 2023, 01:00
Get ready for a showdown like no other as KSW 79 descends upon the Home Credit Arena Liberec in the Czech Republic on Sunday, February 26, 2023. Brace yourself for an epic rematch as these two titans collide once again, having previously met in a brutal encounter that saw Phil De Fries suffer a devastating knockout in the first round. De Fries, who has since retired, is making a comeback with a vengeance, eager to avenge his previous defeat. Experts say that this fight will be one for the ages, with intense moments and heart-stopping action. Check out the analysis and predictions below to see who the experts are tipping to come out on top in this highly anticipated battle.
Claim Your Welcome Bonus!Phil De Fries - heavy favorites
Phil De Fries is a well-known British MMA fighter in the prestigious heavyweight division, with a total of twenty-two victories, eight losses, and no standoffs.Mr. Phil De Fries's long-term victories with elicitation expertise place him at position 35 on the list of MMA heavyweight combatants' records. In 2009, De Fries embarked on a mixed martial arts career and soon accumulated eight victories with no defeats, imprinting enough positive results to gain interest in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. In August 2011, he faced off against Oli Thompson at UFC 138. Exerting his control, De Fries ultimately won through a rear-naked choke in the second phase. Nonetheless, he lost fights against Rob Broughton and Todd Duffee during his competent UFC tenure.
Even though De Fries had won two fights with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), it was hard for him to get back on his feet after losing to Matt Mitrione, Stipe Miocic, and Todd Duffee. After losing to Mitrione in April 2013, De Fries was unable to return to the UFC and instead chose to compete on regional circuits throughout Europe and other parts of the world. De Fries agreed to fight for the Polish organization KSW in 2016, capturing their heavyweight crown in 2018 following his defeat of Karol Bedorf. De Fries is the best fighter in KSW because he has successfully defended his title six times, and he wants to keep going by taking on Todd. Phil De Fries is an accomplished mixed martial arts competitor who has more than a decade's worth of experience. Across different fortnights, Philips has gone up against some of the elite contenders, coming away from those clashes with triumphs. People in the know are aware of him via his fierce ground and pound style (especially relied on to bring down many an opponent); indeed, he has 13 wins through submission in this regard so far
Todd Duffee - can he withstand heavy punches?
Todd Duffee, a native of Evansville, Indiana, is a seasoned mixed martial artist who has competed for the UFC, Dream, and World Series of Fighting. Having competed professionally for 14 years, Duffee is now a well-known figure in mixed martial arts. His career took off in 2007 when he burst onto the scene, leaving opponents reeling with his lightning-fast knockouts. He won his first five fights via KO or TKO, all in the first round, quickly gaining notoriety for his explosive style. In August 2009, the UFC came calling, and Duffee made his highly anticipated debut against Tim Hague at UFC 102. He didn't disappoint, dispatching his opponent in just seven seconds with a blistering KO, setting a new record for the fastest KO in UFC heavyweight history. While Duffee enjoyed continued success in the UFC, his undefeated streak came to a halt when he suffered a TKO loss in a rematch against Mike Russow at UFC 114 in 2010. Still, his raw power and ability to knock people out can't be denied, making him one of the most exciting heavyweights in MMA history.
After being released from the UFC following his defeat by Russow, Duffee began competing in other organizations. This included signing with Dream, where he was knocked out by Alistair Overeem in the first round. In 2011, he joined the World Series of Fighting (WSOF) and was set to fight Nick Gaston but had to withdraw due to an injury. However, in 2012, he recovered and defeated Neil Grove with a TKO win. Duffee made his comeback to the UFC in 2012 and battled Phil De Fries at UFC 155, emerging victorious via knockout in the opening round. He continued his winning streak when he defeated Anthony Hamilton in the first round at the UFC. But he encountered a loss in the UFC 181 bout against Frank Mir due to a knockout. In total, Duffee has nine victories and three losses on his professional MMA record. He is renowned for his ability to quickly defeat opponents with a knockout, with all of his victories achieved through KO or TKO and nine of them occurring in the initial round.
Expert Betting Tip
De Fries has forged his own unique style and amassed invaluable experience, setting himself apart from his first encounter with Duffee. On the other hand, Duffee has only suffered a decline in speed, physical fitness, and overall prowess. Early on, Duffee might be able to stop De Fries from taking him down, but he will eventually get too tired and be caught by De Fries' grappling moves, which will lead to a brutal ground-and-pound finish.