Alexander Volkov's path to UFC heavyweight title fight faces crowded field

Alexander Volkov cemented his status as the undisputed No. 1 heavyweight contender at UFC 321, but the road to a title shot has grown increasingly complicated. Tom Aspinall's timeline and the emergence of contenders including Ciryl Gane, Alex Pereira's move to heavyweight, Serghei Spivac, and Jhonata Diniz have all pushed Volkov's potential title fight back, with a realistic window now looking no earlier than spring. Volkov defeated Rodrigo Nacimento Acosta in his most recent outing to maintain his position, but currently sits behind multiple fighters angling for the same shot.