Volkov Faces Lengthy Wait for Heavyweight Title Shot Despite No. 1 Ranking

Alexander Volkov secured the undisputed No. 1 contender position at UFC 321 but has since seen his path to the heavyweight title complicated by a series of developments, including Tom Aspinall's readiness timeline, Ciryl Gane's actions affecting the champion, Alex Pereira's move to heavyweight, and the emergence of other contenders including Hawkit, Sergei Pavlovich, and Acosta. If Aspinall is ready to compete later this year, a unification bout would likely fall no earlier than November or December, meaning Volkov's title shot may not materialize until spring at the earliest.