Phil De Fries is preparing for his upcoming title defense at KSW 117 against Marcin Wójcik, but he has also shared a deeply personal account of his struggles with anxiety, which significantly impacted his life and career for years.

De Fries Aims for Early Finish at KSW 117

This fight marks another milestone in De Fries’s exceptional reign as the longest-reigning KSW heavyweight champion, with this being his 14th title defense. He acknowledges Wójcik as a dangerous opponent, describing him as a “knockout machine.” In preparation, De Fries has adjusted his training camp, bringing in sparring partners who specifically match Wójcik’s physical attributes and fighting style, departing from his usual training partners like Mick Parkin and Tom Aspinall.

“I think it’ll be a record that stands for a very long time, 10 years champion of a major organisation, especially at heavyweight where you make one wrong move and you could be flatlined… I’m going for the finish, first or second round.”

De Fries has a history of successfully overcoming diverse challenges in the KSW, including a submission win over Arkadiusz Wrzosek and a decision victory against Augusto Sakai.

Overcoming Anxiety

De Fries candidly discussed experiencing severe anxiety for many years, characterized by constant checking of household items, distress from phone calls, and a general struggle with daily life. He eventually sought medical help, was prescribed medication, and after a few months, experienced a significant release from his anxiety. He continues to take the medication and credits this change with a notable improvement in both his personal life and his performance in the cage.

“Life wasn’t enjoyable to me. The doctor prescribed these pills and they said it’ll take three months to work, and in three months my anxiety just lifted. I honestly couldn’t believe how good normal felt. My win streak coincides with beating anxiety completely, so I am scared to come off them. When the anxiety lifted, I remember walking out and thinking, ‘This isn’t so bad. I can enjoy this moment a bit. I can enjoy the energy, the arena.’”

He explained that prior to his treatment, his fights were driven by instinct rather than strategic thought. Now, he feels he can think clearly in the octagon, gain valuable experience, and even appreciate aspects of fight week and fight night. This suggests that De Fries, a long-standing champion, believes he still has significant potential ahead of him.

Despite Wójcik’s speed, power, and unique fighting style, De Fries remains the dominant force in the KSW heavyweight division.

KSW 117 Event Details

KSW 117 is scheduled for April 18 at COS Torwar in Warsaw, Poland. The event will feature a welterweight title fight between Adrian Bartosiński and Andrzej Grzebyk as the main event, with Phil De Fries defending his heavyweight title against Marcin Wójcik in a featured bout. The card also includes other significant matchups, such as Salahdine Parnasse vs. Marian Ziółkowski, Artur Szpilka vs. Errol Zimmerman, and a middleweight title fight between Paweł Pawlak and Mamed Khalidov, promising a compelling mix of championship contests and notable fighters.

Phil De Fries: Mental Health Journey and KSW 117 Title Defense

KSW heavyweight champion Phil De Fries has shared profound details about his ongoing battle with anxiety, which profoundly affected his life and career, as he prepares to face Marcin Wójcik at KSW 117. De Fries discussed how the anxiety manifested in his daily life, leading to constant worries and difficulty finding enjoyment in everyday activities.

De Fries’s Championship Reign and Fight Preparations

Heading into his 14th title defense, De Fries’s reign is the longest in KSW heavyweight history. He recognizes Wójcik as a formidable opponent, capable of delivering knockouts. Consequently, De Fries has modified his training camp to include sparring partners who possess similar physical characteristics and fighting styles to Wójcik, moving away from his usual training partners.

He stated his intention to finish the fight quickly, aiming for a first or second-round victory. De Fries’s KSW career has been marked by his ability to overcome a wide range of challenges, including submission victories and decisive decisions against other top contenders.

The Impact of Anxiety and Recovery

De Fries detailed his years-long struggle with severe anxiety, including repetitive checking of security measures and apprehension regarding simple phone calls. He eventually sought professional help, which led to a prescription for medication. Within three months of starting the treatment, he experienced a significant reduction in his anxiety, describing the feeling of normalcy as almost unbelievable. He believes his current winning streak began concurrently with overcoming his anxiety and is hesitant to discontinue his medication.

He explained that before treatment, his performance was driven by instinct rather than a clear tactical approach. Now, he feels he can think more strategically in the ring, gain valuable experience, and even enjoy the atmosphere of fight week and fight night. This suggests that De Fries is still performing at a high level and believes he has more to achieve in his career.

While Wójcik presents a new challenge with his speed and power, De Fries remains the dominant figure in the KSW heavyweight division.

KSW 117 Card Overview

KSW 117 is scheduled for April 18 at COS Torwar in Warsaw, Poland. The event’s main event will feature a welterweight title bout between Adrian Bartosiński and Andrzej Grzebyk. Phil De Fries’s heavyweight title defense against Marcin Wójcik is also a key attraction. The fight card includes several other compelling matchups, including Salahdine Parnasse vs. Marian Ziółkowski, Artur Szpilka vs. Errol Zimmerman, and a middleweight title fight between Paweł Pawlak and Mamed Khalidov, promising an exciting night of mixed martial arts.

Phil De Fries: Mental Health Battle and KSW 117 Preparation

KSW heavyweight champion Phil De Fries has revealed a significant personal struggle with anxiety that shaped a considerable part of his life and career. As he prepares for his upcoming title defense against Marcin Wójcik at KSW 117, De Fries has opened up about his journey to manage this condition.

De Fries Targets Early Finish in 14th Title Defense

De Fries is poised for his 14th defense of the KSW heavyweight title, extending his reign as the longest-reigning champion in the organization’s history. He has acknowledged Marcin Wójcik as a dangerous opponent, describing him as a “knockout machine.” Consequently, De Fries has adjusted his training camp by bringing in sparring partners who mirror Wójcik’s physical build and fighting style, a departure from his usual training partners.

He expressed his intent to secure a finish early in the fight, aiming for a victory within the first or second round. De Fries has a proven track record in KSW, having successfully overcome a variety of challenges, including submission wins and dominant decisions against formidable opponents.

From Anxiety to Peak Performance

De Fries described experiencing severe anxiety for many years, which led to intrusive behaviors like constantly checking his surroundings and experiencing distress from everyday interactions. He eventually sought medical assistance and began a course of medication. Within three months, he experienced a remarkable alleviation of his anxiety, finding normalcy to be a profound relief. He credits this recovery with a significant improvement in both his personal life and his fighting performance, noting that his current win streak coincides with this period of overcoming anxiety, making him hesitant to stop his treatment.

He explained that before his treatment, his fights were characterized by reactive, instinctual responses rather than calculated strategy. Now, he feels he can approach fights with greater clarity, build experience effectively, and even enjoy the atmosphere of fight week and fight night. This indicates that De Fries, a champion with a long and successful career, believes he still has much to offer.

While Wójcik brings a different set of threats with his speed and power, De Fries remains the undisputed leader of the KSW heavyweight division.

KSW 117: Full Fight Card

KSW 117 is set to take place on April 18 at COS Torwar in Warsaw, Poland. The headline bout will be a welterweight championship fight between Adrian Bartosiński and Andrzej Grzebyk. Phil De Fries’s heavyweight title defense against Marcin Wójcik is also a featured fight on the card. The event will also showcase other significant matchups, including Salahdine Parnasse vs. Marian Ziółkowski, Artur Szpilka vs. Errol Zimmerman, and a middleweight title clash between Paweł Pawlak and Mamed Khalidov, promising a packed and exciting event for MMA fans.