🇦🇺🇺🇸Alexander Volkanovski says that Jon
Jones needs to retire:„If you a the champion — defend your belt. It’s a responsibility. I
think you need to find whoever is there. If there is an interim
champ it’s a no-brainer.Advertisement
Your resume is incredible. You’re considered the greatest… pic.twitter.com/379HCHrXib
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight)
June 14, 2025
Alexander
Volkanovski has a message for fellow champion Jon Jones.
Jones has earned criticism throughout the world of combat sports
for avoiding a fight against Tom
Aspinall. Jones won the vacant heavyweight title in 2023
against Ciryl Gane
but was forced out of a title defense against Stipe
Miocic due to an injury. Aspinall won the interim title against
Sergei
Pavlovich and defended it against Curtis
Blaydes as Jones stayed sidelined.
However, Jones remained adamant about defending his title against
Miocic instead of unifying the title. The matchup came to fruition
in November 2024 when “Bones” defeated Miocic via third-round TKO
at UFC 309. Jones hasn’t fought since and continues to remain
ambiguous about fighting Aspinall, who is frustrated with the
inactivity.
Volkanovski isn’t impressed with the scenario. One of the most
active champs ever, Volkanovski believes it’s imperative for a
reigning champ to fight an interim champ waiting in the wings. If
Jones only wants big fights for paydays, “The Great” urges him to
vacate the title.
“You’re the champ, you defend your belt. It’s a responsibility,”
Volkanovski said on the „Overdogs“ podcast. “You can’t just,‘I’m gonna sit
out.’ You need to be reasonably active. You need to fight whoever’s
there. If you’ve got an interim champ, it’s a no brainer… Don’t
want to throw any shade, but I mean, look he’s proved himself.
Everyone’s like, ‘Look what he’s done. It’s fun.’ No, not
really.
“Don’t hold up the division just because. I know your resume is
incredible, what you’ve done is incredible, you’re considered the
greatest of all time, we get that. So if you don’t want to fight,
just retire, you’re done. You want big fights, you’re gonna have to
vacate the title. It’s a responsibility.”