Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski doesn't believe Jon Jones' stint on the heavyweight throne will mean much if he continues to avoid facing Tom Aspinall.
Jones secured the heavyweight crown in his divisional debut last year, running through Ciryl Gane in quick time to achieve glory in a second weight class. But his detractors haven't been short on ammunition when it comes to dismissing his status as kingpin.
While that started with claims he avoided a showdown with Francis Ngannou following "The Predator's" rise to the top in 2021, the Rochester native is now being accused of 'ducking' Aspinall.
The Brit earned the interim title last November after Jones' planned first defense against Stipe Miocic fell through on late notice due to an injury to the champ. A year later, "Bones" is choosing to keep his sights on the returning veteran instead of his interim counterpart.
That decision has been a prominent topic in the lead-up to Jones vs. Miocic this weekend at UFC 309, and among the latest to fall on the side of Aspinall in the debate is "Alexander the Great."
During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Volkanovski gave his assessment of the heavyweight title picture, commenting on Jones' recent claim that he'll likely only fight beyond Saturday's event if it was against light heavyweight titleholder Alex Pereira.
The Australian was firm in analyzing the damage that continuing to avoid Aspinall will do for Jones, insisting that he can't be seen as the best heavyweight or a two-division champ unless he unifies the title.
I'm sure Jon Jones is sick of hearing this, but the Tom Aspinall fight is the fight everyone wants to see," Volkanovski said. "You want to be heavyweight champion? You want to claim that crown? It's going to be hard to convince me you're a defending champ if you don't fight Tom Aspinall while he's interim champ.
He's already got an incredible legacy. But if you want to claim the heavyweight division, say you're a proper double champ...you've got to fight Tom Aspinall," Volkanovski continued. "If you really want that on your résumé, 'I was the best heavyweight while I was there,' you have to fight Tom Aspinall. He is definitely the biggest threat. ... I can see why he's pointing to that (Pereira), but give away the heavyweight belt then.
Aspinall himself has taken issue with some of Jones' comments during UFC 309 fight week, posting his highlight reel inside the Octagon on social media in response to the all-time great questioning what he's done on MMA's biggest stage.
There's also a chance of the pair running into each other in the coming days, with Aspinall currently in New York City to weigh in as backup fighter for the Nov. 16 main event.