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Tom Aspinall is ‘too good’ for Jon Jones says Alexander Volkanovski

Tom Aspinall is 'too good' for Jon Jones says Alexander Volkanovski Former featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski believes that if anyone is going to beat Jon Jones, it’ll be Tom Aspinall….

Former featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski believes that if anyone is going to beat Jon Jones, it’ll be Tom Aspinall.

After scoring a 69-second knockout of Sergei Pavlovich to take home the interim heavyweight title last year, Aspinall set his sights on a unification clash with Jones, the undisputed heavyweight world champion. Unfortunately, ‘Bones’ has been nothing but dismissive of the challenge, instead opting to stick to his original plan — a heavyweight superfight with two-time titleholder Stipe Miocic.

With Jones seemingly out of the picture, Aspinall will move on to become the first fighter in more than a decade to defend an interim belt when he meets Curtis Blaydes in the UFC 304 co-main event this Saturday night.

If Aspinall comes out on top against ‘Razor’ in Manchester, a showdown with Jon Jones is the only fight that makes sense — and one that Volkanovski truly believes Aspinall can win.

“I think Tom Aspinall is too good,” Volkanovski said on his YouTube channel. “But what I mean is compared to other fighters, which I’m always going to pick Tom Aspinall. Because I believe he’s that good Jon Jones, I want to see that fight. Jon Jones is that good, and he can maybe handle a heavyweight Tom Aspinall.

“But if anyone’s ever going to beat Jon Jones, it’s someone like Tom Aspinall. He can really mix it up still fast; he’s going to be just as fast as Jon Jones you get what I mean it’s he’s that good” (h/t MMA News).

Is the risk of fighting Tom Aspinall worth the reward for Jon Jones?

As it stands, Jon Jones is widely considered to be the undisputed GOAT of mixed martial arts with title reigns in two different divisions and an unbeaten record, though that last bit is up for some debate — unless you’re Dana White.

A win over Miocic, regarded as the best heavyweight in UFC history, would undoubtedly solidify Jones’ legacy as the greatest of all time, leaving many to speculate that ‘Bones’ would simply walk away at that point, having nothing to gain and everything to lose in a potential fight with Tom Aspinall.

Fueling the speculation, the former light heavyweight champ has routinely teased retirement since revealing Miocic as his next target, but he recently left the door open, noting that there are a lot of “crazy” options should he decide to stick around and add to his already established status as a living legend.

Former UFC Champion Picks Against Paddy Pimblett At UFC 304: ‘Bobby Green’s Going To Hit Him, Hurt Him’

Two very different styles will clash during the main card of UFC 304 this weekend as Paddy Pimblett takes on Bobby Green in a huge lightweight contest. “The Baddy” has gone to the scorecards in his last two fights after finishing his first three opponents inside the Octagon but he’s always dangerous. Whilst the Englishman’s […]

Continue Reading Former UFC Champion Picks Against Paddy Pimblett At UFC 304: ‘Bobby Green’s Going To Hit Him, Hurt Him’ at MMA News.

Two very different styles will clash during the main card of UFC 304 this weekend as Paddy Pimblett takes on Bobby Green in a huge lightweight contest.

“The Baddy” has gone to the scorecards in his last two fights after finishing his first three opponents inside the Octagon but he’s always dangerous.

Whilst the Englishman’s physical prowess and submission skills are a big threat, the dangers that Green presents are very different.

With this fight being the big number 50 on his pro record, the veteran lightweight contender is a slick boxer who often tricks opponents into overcommitting.

A former UFC champion believes that this could be the story of the fight come Saturday night in Manchester.

Alexander Volkanovski Expects King Green To Play The Matador Against Paddy Pimblett

During his breakdown of the card on his YouTube channel, former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski spoke about the difficulties of fighting someone like Green.

Green often carries his hands by his side and will rely on his reaction time to get opponents to throw at him so that he can slip and counter with his fast hands and combinations.

Pimblett has been working extensively on his striking in recent times and there have been questions in the past about how solid his technique is, when fists start flying.

Volkanovski sided with Green when giving his picks for the card and he believes that a crucial aspect of this fight will be the 155-pound stalwart playing his usual game.

“I’m going to have to go with Bobby Green, I think he’s the safer bet here. It’s going to be a three-round fight. Paddy Pimblett, yeah I find it, it’s going to be hard for him to take him down and get a finish. Can he go and upset, you know, hometown crowd. I don’t think that’s going to faze Bobby Green.

“Again, Bobby Green’s going to put himself in positions where Paddy Pimblett’s going to feel he can fire and going to lull him into shots. I guarantee we’re going to see that pretty much straight away. I feel Bobby Green’s going to hit him, hurt him, maybe Paddy Pimblett would start trying to look for the shots straight after that. Does he get them? Or does he get hurt straight away? I’m not sure.”

Read More: UFC Commentator Surprised Paddy Pimblett Is Considering Influencer Boxing Ahead Of Last Fight On Contract: ‘One Of The Most Dynamic Grapplers…’

Continue Reading Former UFC Champion Picks Against Paddy Pimblett At UFC 304: ‘Bobby Green’s Going To Hit Him, Hurt Him’ at MMA News.

Alexander Volkanovski: Jon Jones Can ‘Maybe’ Handle Tom Aspinall At Heavyweight

Alexander Volkanovski appears uncertain whether Jon Jones can prevail against Tom Aspinall in a potential heavyweight showdown. When Aspinall stepped up on short notice and knocked out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 last November to claim the interim heavyweight title, he immediately set his sights on a title unification bout against the reigning champion. However, […]

Continue Reading Alexander Volkanovski: Jon Jones Can ‘Maybe’ Handle Tom Aspinall At Heavyweight at MMA News.

Alexander Volkanovski appears uncertain whether Jon Jones can prevail against Tom Aspinall in a potential heavyweight showdown.

When Aspinall stepped up on short notice and knocked out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 last November to claim the interim heavyweight title, he immediately set his sights on a title unification bout against the reigning champion.

However, “Bones” has consistently dismissed the challenge, even belittling Aspinall’s dominance in the division. Instead, Jones has expressed his desire to reschedule his canceled bout with former longtime titleholder Stipe Miocic, with their anticipated clash seemingly set for later this year.

With Jones currently out of the picture for now, Aspinall has chosen to make the first defense of his interim heavyweight belt against former foe Curtis Blaydes. The rematch will serve as the co-main event of UFC 304, set to take place this Saturday on Aspinall’s home turf in Manchester.

If the 31-year-old Englishman triumphs over Blaydes on July 27, the ultimate matchup for him and fans alike would undoubtedly be a showdown with Jones.

“Bones” is widely regarded as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time. However, Volkanovski believes Aspinall possesses the complete arsenal necessary to challenge and potentially disrupt Jones’ storied legacy…

Volkanovski Foresees Aspinall’s Victory Over Jones

During a recent video on his YouTube channel, “The Great” delved into his predictions for the upcoming UFC 304 card. Volkanovski confidently picked Aspinall to triumph over Blaydes and went on to heap praise on the Brit, assessing his chances against Jones in a potential heavyweight showdown.

The former UFC featherweight champion asserted that if there’s anyone on the current heavyweight roster capable of standing toe-to-toe with Jones and perhaps even having the upper hand, it’s Aspinall.

“I think Tom Aspinall is too good,” Volkanovski said. “But what I mean is compared to other fighters, which I’m always going to pick Tom Aspinall. Because I believe he’s that good Jon Jones, I want to see that fight. Jon Jones is that good, and he can maybe handle a heavyweight Tom Aspinall.

“But if anyone’s ever going to beat Jon Jones, it’s someone like Tom Aspinall. He can really mix it up still fast; he’s going to be just as fast as Jon Jones you get what I mean it’s he’s that good.”

Aspinall’s sole setback in his eight Octagon appearances occurred two years ago at UFC Fight Night London when he sustained a severe knee injury in the first round against “Razor”. Now, he is determined to rectify that misfortune.

While the prospect of a Jones vs. Aspinall showdown tantalizes the MMA community, its realization seems distant. Jones remains steadfast in his desire to face Miocic upon his return and has even hinted at potentially hanging up his gloves after that bout.

Read More: Jon Jones Told He ‘Cannot Do Anything But Acknowledge That Victory’ If Tom Aspinall Defeats Curtis Blaydes At UFC 304

Continue Reading Alexander Volkanovski: Jon Jones Can ‘Maybe’ Handle Tom Aspinall At Heavyweight at MMA News.

Alexander Volkanovski Predicts UFC 304 headliner Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad

After a fairly timid performance against Colby Covington in his last outing, Alexander Volkanovski believes Leon Edwards is going…

After a fairly timid performance against Colby Covington in his last outing, Alexander Volkanovski believes Leon Edwards is going to let his hands go when he steps inside the Octagon this Saturday night.

Emanating from Co-op Live in Manchester, ‘Rocky’ will put his welterweight world title on the line against top-ranked contender Belal Muhammad in the UFC 304 headliner.

After bringing the belt back to the UK via his shocking “kick heard ’round the world” against Kamaru Usman at UFC 278, Edwards defended the crown against the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’ in an entertaining trilogy bout before offering up a somewhat uninspired, albeit successful showing against the aforementioned Colby Covington.

This time around, former featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski believes ‘Rocky’ will be more likely to let his hands go, giving fans something to feast on as he performs in front of his home country for the first time since his threequel with Usman.

“I think [Leon Edwards] is gonna let his hands go, which is gonna make him a lot more dangerous,” Volkanovski said in a video on his YouTube channel. “‘Cause when he does let his hands go, he’s good. Leon Edwards is really good. Even just watching his training, hitting pads. You can see there’s power in his kicks.”

Both UFC gold and a couple of impressive unbeaten streaks are on the line between Leon Edwards and Belal Muhammad

Aside from UFC gold, a couple of long-standing win streaks will be on the line this Saturday night in the Capitol of the North. Leon Edwards enters the bout having won his last 12 fights dating back to a 2016 win over Dominic Waters.

Meanwhile, Belal Muhammad has built an impressive nine-fight win streak spanning the last five years. In his last four outings, he has bested Stephen ‘Wonderboy’ Thompson, Vicente Luque, Sean Brady, and Gilbert Burns — all members of the welterweight top 15 with Thompson, Brady, and Burns residing in the top 10.

Their UFC 304 headliner will also serve as a rematch after their first meeting at a Fight Night event ended in the early moments of round two due to an inadvertent eye poke perpetrated by Edwards.

Alexander Volkanovski Launches Staunch Defense Of His & Israel Adesanya’s Track Records As Champs: ‘We Wouldn’t Be In The Position We Are Now…’

Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski recently responded to the naysayers questioning the supposed burnout affecting both his and Israel Adesanya’s fighting careers, pointing to their stellar records as UFC champions. “Alexander the Great” suffered a second-round knockout at the hands of Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 in February, marking his first setback as a […]

Continue Reading Alexander Volkanovski Launches Staunch Defense Of His & Israel Adesanya’s Track Records As Champs: ‘We Wouldn’t Be In The Position We Are Now…’ at MMA News.

“Alexander the Great” suffered a second-round knockout at the hands of Ilia Topuria at UFC 298 in February, marking his first setback as a featherweight. This loss came on the heels of another finish by reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in the first round at UFC 294 last October, making it Volkanovski’s second consecutive KO defeat.

The loss to Topuria concluded his four-year tenure as champion. Volkanovski, one of the UFC’s most active fighters, has participated in nine title bouts over the past five years. However, the Australian is now on a break from the Octagon to focus on his mental health and recuperate.

A segment of the MMA community has voiced apprehensions that Volkanovski’s recent defeats stem from his grueling schedule, suggesting that his relentless string of back-to-back fights has led to burnout.

However, “Alexander the Great” rebuffs these claims, insisting that his relentless pace in competition has been a key factor in his and his close friend and City Kickboxing training partner Adesanya’s rise to greatness as champions…

Volkanovski Credits Active Competition for His & Adesanya’s Championship Success

During a recent interview on the FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel with Adesanya’s younger brother, Volkanovski addressed critics who doubt their careers.

The former featherweight titleholder expressed that he finds “The Last Stylebender’s” reign as middleweight champion deeply inspiring for his own journey.

“Being active is where you’re gonna make your most money. So get active. I learned that from Izzy, he’s got the right form, and I love it. When we talk about our mentality, like myself and Israel Adesanya, people start to say, ‘Oh, you burned yourself out,’ and they try to look at it as a bad thing.

“But we wouldn’t be the champions we were. We wouldn’t be in the position we are now mentally and everything. Our mentality and our mindset, that’s what made us great champions to be able to defend that.”

The 35-year-old Aussie further expressed his gratitude for avoiding extended layoffs from fighting, attributing his legacy as a dominant champion to his relentless activity in the sport.

“That mentality got us, how many times defending champ? … But I was thankful that I was like that for how long I did. I wouldn’t have the appreciation from the people if I weren’t like that, I wouldn’t have the money in the bank like I do, and I wouldn’t be able to look after my family like I’m able to right now if it wasn’t for that.”

“The Last Stylebender” also took a voluntary break after losing his middleweight title to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 last September. Initially, he jokingly suggested that he might not return to the Octagon until 2027.

However, Adesanya is poised to challenge reigning middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305, set to take place on August 17 in Perth, Australia.

Read More: Dricus Du Plessis To Israel Adesanya: ‘I’m Glad You Took Up Golf, Because That’s A Retirement Sport’

Continue Reading Alexander Volkanovski Launches Staunch Defense Of His & Israel Adesanya’s Track Records As Champs: ‘We Wouldn’t Be In The Position We Are Now…’ at MMA News.

Alexander Volkanovski hunts ‘Exciting’ fight with Dustin Poirier at lightweight: ‘He’s a great dude, we get along’

Recently announcing plans to make a lightweight return if he cannot secure a quickfire featherweight comeback, former champion, Alexander…

Recently announcing plans to make a lightweight return if he cannot secure a quickfire featherweight comeback, former champion, Alexander Volkanovski has revealed plans to land himself an “exciting” fight against Dustin Poirier.

Volkanovski, a former undisputed featherweight titleholder and prior pound-for-pound number one, has been out of action since he headlined UFC 298 back in February, dropping a stunning knockout loss to the unbeaten, Ilia Topuria in the pair’s title clash.

And revealing plans to make a 155lbs return in his next outing, Volkanovski weighed up a pairing against former undisputed divisional champion, Charles Oliveira.

“So, if there is no title fight until next year [for me] then I need something exciting – maybe Charles Oliveira,” Alexander Volkanovski explained. “There are others but I think Michael Chandler will keep waiting for Conor McGregor and I think Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje also want to wait a bit. There is nobody [at featherweight] that excites me, or that I haven’t fought already. And they’ve said my next one there is the title fight.”

Alexander Volkanovski welcomes Dustin Poirier clash at 155lbs

However, offering to take on Lafayette native, Poirier in the aftermath of the latter’s D’Arce choke submission defeat to Islam Makhachev back in May – upon news of the former interim champion’s plan to make one final Octagon walk, Volkanovski offered to take him on next.

“You know, I want an exciting fight at [lightweight] – a Charles Oliveira, I did call out (Dustin) Poirier after that one [fight with Islam Makhachev] – I think he’s a great dude, we get a along,” Alexander Volkanovski told FREESTYLEBENDER. “I think he’s a good man, and obviously he’s a big fun fight. There’s still history there with you know, mutual opponents, he’s fought – he used to fight at featherweight. …”

Who wins in a potential lightweight clash: Dustin Poirier or Alexander Volkanovski?