Alexander Volkanovski is including his title to the listing of fighters signing off on a future Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall battle.
Although Jones defends his heavyweight title in opposition to Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 this Saturday, it’s interim champion Aspinall who has claimed lots of the headlines as he has pursued a battle with Jones for the previous 12 months. Jones and Miocic had been initially scheduled to battle at UFC 295 in November 2024, however when a pectoral harm compelled Jones out of the competition, Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich had been known as upon to battle for an interim title. Aspinall went on to defeat Pavlovich by 69-second knocokut.
Since then, there have been requires Jones to battle Aspinall in a unification bout—much to Jones’ chagrin—however he and the UFC prioritized the Miocic re-booking. Breaking down the UFC 309 predominant occasion on his YouTube channel, Volkanovski made the case for Jones having to battle Aspinall ought to he defeat Miocic.
“I’m certain Jon Jones is sick of listening to this, however the Tom Aspinall battle is the battle everybody needs to see,” Volkanovski stated. “You wish to be a heavyweight champion, you wish to declare that crown—which may sound improper, since you did declare it. It was a vacant belt and also you fought [Ciryl] Gane for it and you bought it, nevertheless it’s going to be exhausting to persuade me you’re defending champ in case you don’t battle Tom Aspinall whereas he’s the interim champ and the largest risk.
“Does Jon Jones even want to do that? No, he’s already bought an unimaginable legacy. However if you wish to declare the heavyweight division, so that you had been a correct double champ… you’ve bought to battle Tom Aspinall. In the event you actually need that in your résumé saying that I’m the most effective heavyweight whereas I used to be right here, it’s important to battle Tom Aspinall. I believe he’s undoubtedly the largest risk. The wrestling, all over the place, he will be harmful all over the place, and he’s a legit heavyweight. Explosive, quick. That’s the battle that I hope to see.”
Moderately than talk about a possible battle with Aspinall, Jones has talked about mild heavyweight champion Alex Pereira as an opponent he’d wish to face. Briefly time, Pereira has develop into one of many UFC’s hottest fighters, profitable titles at 185 and 205 kilos, and flirting with the thought of leaping up yet another division to develop into the promotion’s first triple champion.
Volkanovski sees the enchantment in Jones vs. Pereira, however nonetheless needs to see interim champion get the battle that he deserves.
“What he will get out of beating [Aspinall] could be, I believe for many of us, the fellows which are within the know, that may be enormous,” Volkanovski stated. “However once you’re speaking cash and issues like that and star energy, I win over Pereira proper now could be huge. That’s most likely one of many greatest fights you would do proper now, so I can see why he’s pointed there, however do away with the heavyweight belt then. … The interim champ’s there, it’s essential to battle him and that’s simply how it’s.”
As for the way the motion unfolds on battle evening, Volkanovski goes with the favored Jones to care for enterprise. In 29 professional bouts, Jones’ solely blemishes are disqualification loss to Matt Hamill in a bout that he dominated from begin to end, and a July 2017 bout with Daniel Cormier that was overturned from a Jones knockout win to a no-contest when Jones later examined constructive for a banned substance.
Miocic additionally brings a formidable listing of accolades with him to Madison Sq. Backyard. The Cleveland native holds the report for many profitable UFC heavyweight title defenses (4) and has knocked out an inventory of legends, together with Daniel Cormier, Junior dos Santos, Fabricio Werdum, Andrei Arlovski, and Mark Hunt. Nonetheless, Miocic has not competed since a knockout loss to Francis Ngannou in March 2021 and at 42 years previous, his finest days are behind him.
In a battle of legends, Volkanovski sees Jones popping out on high in convincing trend.
“I like Stipe, however Jon Jones goes to be too good on this one,” Volkanovski stated. “You possibly can’t guess in opposition to him, and I believe it most likely can be a end. Could possibly be a submission, may very well be a TKO. Do I believe it’s a one-punch knockout? No. Does he harm him? Knees to the physique, simply breaking him correctly down, like buckle his legs, knees, or bust his ribs, simply painful TKO if that is sensible.
“Like, growth, growth, growth, after which attempting to guard himself as a result of he’s actually harm and the ref has to simply cease it. I can see one thing like that occur. And I can see that taking place possibly within the first few rounds, first couple of rounds even, possibly second-round TKO for Jon Jones.”
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