Volkov's Title Shot Path Grows More Crowded Despite UFC 321 Contender Win

Alexander Volkov cemented his status as the top heavyweight contender at UFC 321 but immediately faced a series of complications threatening to push his title shot further back. Tom Aspinall's injury at the hands of Ciryl Gane, Alex Pereira's move to heavyweight, the emergence of Calib Hokit, and Sergei Pavlovich's recent winning run have all created a deeper queue ahead of Volkov. If Aspinall is ready to compete later this year, a unification bout would realistically fall in November or December, meaning Volkov would be fortunate to receive a title opportunity by spring at the earliest — and that timeline could be further complicated if Hokit beats Derrick Lewis and Pavlovich continues to press his championship case.