Volkov wins three straight yet UFC still offers no answer on heavyweight title shot

Alexander Volkov confronted UFC CEO Dana White at the UFC 333 pre-fight news conference in Abu Dhabi, asking directly what he needed to do to earn a heavyweight title shot — and walked away without a clear answer.

The 6-foot-7 Russian has built a compelling case for a championship opportunity. His only defeat since 2024 was a disputed split decision against current heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane, a result Volkov clearly regards as unfinished business. He has since strung together three consecutive victories, the most recent a points win over Rizvan Kuniev at UFC 333.

Despite that run, Volkov says the UFC’s leadership has offered him nothing concrete. Speaking to Ariel Helwani, he was candid about the exchange with White — and sceptical that the promotion’s boss even knew who he was.

“Of course he didn’t recognize me,” Volkov said. “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. 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 has insisted he did recognise Volkov, but “Drago” remains unconvinced, suggesting the UFC boss may confuse his name with that of featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski. Volkov was quick to add, however, that the recognition issue is secondary — the absence of a credible pathway to the title is what frustrates him most.

With a disputed loss to the reigning champion on his record and three wins banked since, Volkov’s argument for a rematch or a title eliminator is difficult to dismiss. Whether the UFC chooses to act on it is another matter entirely.