LAS VEGAS – Alexander Volkov thinks Tom Aspinall earned his way to UFC gold more than Jon Jones did.
Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) claimed the vacant heavyweight title when he returned from an over three-year long layoff to submit Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. Last month at UFC 309, Jones successfully defended his title with a TKO of Stipe Miocic.
Meanwhile, Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) quickly knocked out Sergei Pavlovich to become interim heavyweight champion at UFC 295. He has since defended his belt with a first-round TKO of Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.
Based on their resumes at heavyweight, Volkov (38-10 MMA, 6-3 UFC) sees Aspinall as the more credible champion.
“In my opinion, Tom is more deserving of the champion belt in heavyweight than Jon Jones,” Volkov told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 310 media day. “I can’t say Jon Jones is a bad fighter or he can’t beat Tom Aspinall or something. But the way Tom Aspinall got exactly in the heavyweight, his way to take this belt in heavyweight, it was more honest to give him this heavyweight belt.
“Jon Jones kind of cut the line, you know? He kind of went from the side, getting his first fight with Ciryl Gane for the belt, who already lost to (Francis) Ngannou. He got this belt, then defended it against the No. 6 ranked guy, who was champion, of course. Stipe Miocic is a really good fighter, but he didn’t fight for a few years. It looked more like a superfight, not a champion fight. I think Tom Aspinall deserves it more.”
Volkov will look to earn his first title shot when he runs things back with Gane (12-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) in a pivotal heavyweight clash, which takes place on Saturday’s UFC 310 main card (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, Hulu, ESPN+) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 310.
