Alexander Volkov: Dana White "Of Course Didn't Recognize Me" — and Still Has No Answer on a Title Shot
“Of course he didn't recognize me.”
Alexander Volkov is not letting the UFC 333 press-conference moment go. Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show on Wednesday, the Russian heavyweight said he remains convinced that UFC CEO Dana White genuinely did not know who was asking him a question in Abu Dhabi — and, more importantly to him, that White still has not answered the question itself.
Volkov was not on the press-conference dais. He said he found out he was left off it again, the same as his last three fights, and walked in like everyone else.
"I saw they didn't have me on the press conference again, the same as the last three fights. I don't know why. I just went through the regular gates like a regular fan."
From the media line, he asked White what he needed to do to earn a heavyweight title shot. White asked about his record and his age, then pointed him toward matchmakers Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard, while featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski spoke up to identify the man at the microphone.
Volkov believes the confusion was real, and he offered his own explanation for it:
"Of course he didn't recognize me. First of all, I'm a Russian fighter; I'm not even sure he can remember my name and I bet every time he hears my name, he thinks they're talking about Alexander Volkanovski. But it's fine; there are more than 500 fighters on the roster, so he doesn't have to recognize every fighter."
Then he turned serious, because for Volkov the recognition was never the point:
"But to talk seriously, he still didn't have an answer to my question. I'm asking, what should I do? What am I supposed to do to get a title fight? And they don't have an answer."
White's version of the exchange is different. He insists he did recognize Volkov, assumed the heavyweight was doing a bit, and waited for a punchline that never came. Volkov is not buying it — but he also made clear that the argument over recognition is secondary. What he wants is a route to the belt, and he says he still does not have one.
His case inside the cage has only grown stronger. Volkov beat Rizvan Kuniev at UFC 333 by unanimous decision, 29-28, 30-27 and 30-27, for his third straight win and his 20th UFC victory. He is 41-11 overall and 7-1 in his last eight fights, with the only loss in that stretch a disputed split decision against current champion Ciryl Gane in December 2024. He is ranked No. 2 in the heavyweight division.
After the Kuniev win, Volkov repeated the question in the Octagon, and White at the post-fight press conference would only say he had a good performance and that they would see what happens next. No date. No opponent. No commitment.
Volkov wants a title shot against the winner of Gane vs. Josh Hokit, the heavyweight title fight headlining UFC 334 on November 14 at Madison Square Garden. That fight is booked; a fight for Volkov is not. Until White gives him an answer, the question he asked in Abu Dhabi — and again in the Octagon — is still open.
