Why Alexander Volkanovski thinks Jon Jones should fight Tom Aspinall

Alexander Volkanovski believes the fight against Tom Aspinall will contribute to Jon Jones’ legacy in a decisive way.

Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) defends his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 309 (pay-per-view, ESPNews/Hulu/FX, ESPN+) main event at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Jones has dismissed interim heavyweight champion Aspinall and does not believe he needs to collect the titles. However, Volkanovski thinks otherwise.

“If you want to be a heavyweight champion, you want to claim that crown,” Volkanovski said of Jones on his YouTube channel. “You claimed it. It was a vacant belt and you fought Gane for it and you got it. But it’s going to be hard to convince me you’re defending champion if you don’t fight Tom Aspinall while he’s the interim champion and the biggest threat Does Jon Jones even need to do this?

“He already has an incredible legacy, but if you want to assert yourself in the heavyweight division and say you were a proper two-time champion, you have to fight Tom Aspinall. If you really want to put that on your CV and say ‘I’m the best heavyweight while I was there’, fight Tom Aspinall. I definitely think he’s the biggest threat, wrestling, he can be dangerous anywhere and he’s a legit heavyweight.”

Instead, Jones sees a fight with UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira – a fight he sees bigger for his legacy than Aspinall. Volkanovski disagrees with that part, but acknowledges that Pereira is a bigger money fight.

“I know there is talk that he might do a Pereira fight,” Volkanovski continued. “He’s probably in a position where I don’t have to add to my legacy. I want bigger fights.’ Pereira is a massive name right now so maybe that’s what he’s after and he’s smart. He knows Tom Aspinall is a much bigger threat.”

For more on the card, visit the MMA Junkies event hub for UFC 309.