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Alexander Volkov believes heavyweight belt lost meaning with Ciryl Gane vs. Josh Hokit at UFC 334

Veteran heavyweight Alexander Volkov, who has won six of his last seven fights after a controversial split‑decision loss to current champion Ciryl Gane, says the prestige of the UFC heavyweight belt is fading. He points to Gane’s recent title defenses against Tom Aspinall and Alex Pereira and the upcoming bout at UFC 334 on Nov.

14 against Josh Hokit – a fighter who entered MMA after Volkov was already an established UFC competitor – as evidence that fame, not pure fighting skill, is now dictating championship opportunities.

Volkov argues that the belt’s meaning is being reduced to a reward for the loudest or most marketable fighter, rather than the toughest and most skilled. He suggests that a future champion should be judged solely on ability, without the influence of promotional hype, and notes that if he ever captures the title, it would restore its significance.

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