Tom
Aspinall isn’t the only one frustrated by the proceedings — or
lack thereof — at the top of the heavyweight division.
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Russian heavyweight Alexander
Volkov is also feeling the effects of the delay in the booking
of the heavyweight title unification bout between Jon Jones and
Aspinall. This past week, Jones cast doubt that the fight will ever
happen in a series of posts on social media. First, “Bones”
claimed that he informed the
UFC of his plans “a long time ago,” and later, he gave a
less than encouraging assessment of his career
status.
Volkov, a 36-year-old former Bellator
MMA and M-1 Global
champion, is well aware that his time as a top contender has a
shelf life. “Drago” had a four-bout winning streak snapped in his
last outing, a contentious split-decision loss to Ciryl Gane
at UFC 310.
„As a fighter, of course, I have a negative opinion of the delay in
the Jones-Aspinall fight, since my chances to fight for the
championship title are getting smaller, and time is running out,”
Volkov told Russian outlet championat.com (via Google Translate). “In
other weight categories, there is a real conveyor belt of fights.
That’s why I am unhappy. So I would have had a chance to test
myself in a title fight a long time ago, if it weren’t for Jon
Jones.”
However, Volkov doesn’t necessarily blame Jones for the way the
situation has unfolded. Instead, he believes it’s on the promotion
to force his hand and keep the division moving forward.
“But I can understand him. If I were in Jones‘ place, with his
position, the goal of earning the maximum amount of money and the
desire to fight when it is convenient for him, then, of course, I
would continue to do this,” Volkov said. “It is obvious that he
does what is beneficial for himself first and foremost. And Jon has
the right to do so. And the question here is not so much about
Jon
Jones, but about the fact that the UFC allows him to behave
this way and shows excessive loyalty to him. As a result, everyone
is waiting.“