Alexander Volkov earned the undisputed number-one contender spot at UFC 321, but a series of developments have complicated his path to a title shot. Tom Aspinall's timeline, Ciryl Gane's rise, Alex Pereira moving to heavyweight, and challengers such as Sergei Pavlovich and Jailton Almeida have all pushed Volkov further back in the queue. At best, Volkov may not receive his title opportunity until spring if Aspinall faces the interim champion in late 2026.
Alexander Volkov secured the number-one contender spot in the UFC heavyweight division at UFC 321, but the Russian heavyweight is now facing a congested landscape that could push his long-awaited title shot well into next year.
Volkov, nicknamed "Drago," carries a 40-11-0 professional record and sits atop the heavyweight rankings at 37 years old. The six-foot-seven Russian, who competes out of Strela Team, brings considerable firepower to the division, landing 4.78 significant strikes per minute at a 57 percent striking accuracy rate, with an 80-inch reach that makes him one of the most physically imposing fighters in the game. Despite his contender status, several factors have complicated a straightforward path to champion Tom Aspinall.
Aspinall, the reigning heavyweight champion, holds a 15-3-0 record and sits sixth in the pound-for-pound rankings. The 33-year-old Englishman from Team Kaobon is one of the most well-rounded heavyweights in UFC history, averaging 7.63 significant strikes per minute at 67 percent accuracy while also threatening takedowns at a rate of 2.62 per 15 minutes. His timeline for a potential title defense remains the central uncertainty clouding Volkov's future.
Adding to the uncertainty, Ciryl Gane has climbed to the number-two contender position. "Bon Gamin" is 36 years old, holds a 14-2-0 record, and presents a dynamic offensive game with 5.29 significant strikes per minute and a 61 percent accuracy rate. Beyond Gane, Alex Pereira's reported move to heavyweight, along with the presence of Sergei Pavlovich and Jailton Almeida, has thickened an already competitive division.
Why it matters
- Volkov is the ranked number-one contender but faces a queue of legitimate challengers for Aspinall's title
- Aspinall's next defense timeline is unclear, with a late-2026 bout against an interim champion representing the most optimistic scenario for Volkov
- At 37, Volkov has a narrowing window, and further delays could see younger contenders leapfrog him entirely
