Jones likens Volkanovski’s UFC legacy to his personal

UFC legend and heavyweight world champion Jon ‘Bones’ Jones has paid Alexander Volkanovski the very best reward, saying the Australian will ascend to the highest of the game when he retires.

Famend as the best of all time in blended martial arts, Jones is touring six Australian and New Zealand cities in Might lower than two months after the No.1 pound-for-pound fighter on the planet scored a round-one submission over Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight belt.

Jones was light-heavyweight champion twice in a profession spanning 20 years and cemented himself in blended martial folklore together with his heavyweight win in March.

The 35-year-old American mentioned he admired Volkanovski, who not too long ago fought up a division like Jones after dominating the featherweight class.

“I am a giant fan of him,” Jones informed AAP.

“We have had some small interactions and each single one in all them has been extremely respectful.

“He was the primary pound-for-pound fighter on the planet and really deserving of that.

“I consider once I depart, he shall be proper again to being the primary pound-for-pound fighter on the planet.”

Volkanovski has reportedly verbally agreed to battle for the unified featherweight belt in July towards Yair Rodriguez, after the Mexican was named interim-champion with a win at UFC 284 in Perth.

Volkanovski moved up a division and fought Islam Makhachev at light-weight on the identical card earlier this 12 months and a showdown with Rodriguez could be for the ‘undisputed’ featherweight championship.

Jones mentioned he was sceptical of the Aussie as a consequence of his allegiance with middleweight champion and Kiwi Israel Adesanya, however instantly turned a fan when he moved up a division.

He believes it’s indicative of the legacy Volkanovski is rising within the UFC.

“He is heading in the right direction,” Jones mentioned of Volkanovski’s footprint within the sport.

“One factor he did that took me ceaselessly to do was transfer as much as the following weight class and problem a man that is a lot larger than him.

“When he fought Islam, it simply confirmed loads about his coronary heart and his dedication to greatness and made me a extremely huge fan – that actually was the turning level for me.

“It confirmed me loads about his work ethic. He has coronary heart, I am a fan for all times.”

As for his personal profession, Jones revealed he has his eyes set on a showdown with former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic in his residence metropolis of New York.

That, he says, will depart him with nothing left to show.

“One factor in regards to the UFC is we wish to give the followers what they wish to see. What I need most is to battle Stipe Miocic at Madison Sq. Backyard. It is the Mecca. I’ve bought to get that beneath my belt,” he added.

“After that I actually really feel like I would don’t have anything left to show and I would prefer to battle Sergei Pavlovich, simply to do it.

“I wish to depart this sport figuring out I confronted each problem, I confronted it head on, and if Sergei is the final particular person that folks suppose can beat me – then let’s do it.

“However Stipe is what means essentially the most to me personally.”

Australian Related Press