Alexander Volkov: 'Of course' Dana White didn't recognize me at UFC presser — 'I'm not even sure he can remember my name'

Alexander Volkov remains a model of consistency within the UFC heavyweight ranks.At UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi this past Saturday, Volkov kept his win streak alive, defeating Rizvan Kuniev by unanimous decision. The performance extended Volkov's streak of success to three straight, with only one loss coming over his past eight appearances.Notably, Volkov, 38, made a surprise appearance at the event's pre-fight press conference to confront UFC CEO Dana White and ask what he needed to do to earn his first UFC title shot. White initially appeared not to recognize Volkov, despite the heavyweight having fought 20 times in the promotion. The scene went viral as White awkwardly went back and forth with Volkov, with featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski even trying to help White out as he sat to White’s right on the stage.On Wednesday's edition of "The Ariel Helwani Show," Volkov said he wasn't scheduled to be part of the press conference, which is how he came up with the idea of entering as a crowd member. Regarding whether White recognized him, he believes it was obvious he didn't."Of course he didn't recognize me," Volkov told Uncrowned. "First of all, I'm a Russian fighter. I'm not even sure he can remember my name. I bet every time he hears my name, he thinks they're talking about Alexander Volkanovski."It's fine. There is 500 or more fighters on the roster, so he doesn't recognize every fighter. But to talk seriously, he still didn't have an answer [to] my question. I asked him, ‘What should I do? What am I supposed to do to get a title fight?’ They don't have this answer every time."[Fighters] don't decide [who gets it],” Volkov added. “I'm just doing my job."Nearly a week later, Volkov is still awaiting an answer, as White was non-committal about a title shot for Volkov at the post-fight press conference, despite his Kuniev victory. "Drago" admits he's feeling the love and support from fans saying he should be next, though.Ultimately, he isn't overly upset about not getting an answer either."I'm never disappointed with something anymore. I'm too old for that. I just know what I should do," Volkov said."In the best way, I can't cry everywhere that I deserve it, or I'm next. What I can do is just ask the bosses what I'm supposed to do. This is the only question I have for them. Just give me things I should do, because I did a lot. I'm like the most proven fighter in the UFC [heavyweight division] right now. I'm on my win streak, in my prime, I can do good with everything with every fighter right now. I'm the best striker in the UFC. I have a black belt in BJJ. I can fight with anybody; it doesn't matter who is my opponent."One of the biggest knocks on Volkov over his latest run has been his lack of finishes. Volkov hasn't knocked out or submitted an opponent since his second-round Ezekiel choke of Tai Tuivasa in September 2023.Volkov isn't sitting back and over-inflating a narrative that he's been a wildly exciting fighter in recent fights. He sees his claim more as a testament to his strength of schedule, and if that means more competitive fights, he's fine with it.Alexander Volkov had a surprise viral exchange with Dana White at the UFC 333 press conference.Jeff Bottari via Getty Images"To be honest, I'm not kind of hunting for this title," Volkov said. "This belt doesn't define me. I'm still a champion by myself. I understand who I am, what I can do, which guys I can beat. It's opposite. Fighter who has the belt, he defines what the belt means."If you want the belt to be a big prize, you should have a guy who proves his record, who can beat everyone, who is a real martial artist. Not just somebody who does some big things or breaks rules every fight, trying to injure your opponents."I respect everybody. I fight clean," Volkov continued. "I fight in a good way, and I'm still best in the game. I don't use any drugs; I'm a clean athlete all my life through martial arts."The rapidly changing landscape of the heavyweight division, particularly at its peak, has left Volkov in somewhat of a holding pattern. With Tom Aspinall recently vacating the championship, the newly-crowned champion Ciryl Gane will defend the belt against Josh Hokit at UFC 334 on Nov. 14 at Madison Square Garden.Aspinall remains sidelined with eye injuries he suffered against Gane in October 2025. But if he can return sooner rather than later, Volkov fully supports the idea of Aspinall's first fight back being for the recently relinquished title.That would leave Volkov waiting around even longer, presumably for the winner of the upcoming Alex Pereira vs. Sergei Pavlovich fight set for December."It looks like Pereira vs. Pavlovich should be the next closest to a contender fight," Volkov said. "So maybe the winner of this fight should be my next opponent. It looks like that. Nobody else I can see right now [is] in the top rankings who can fight for the belt. Or maybe a fight with Josh Hokit will be also good, just so I can [have] fun with it and have another good week with the UFC."A mild feud has begun brewing between Volkov and Hokit after Volkov's surprise "praise" of a Hokit title shot earlier this month. In a joking manner, Volkov expressed how kind of the UFC he thought it was to give someone with a "mental illness" a title shot.Hokit responded on social media shortly after, lambasting Volkov for being boring and saying the Russian should’ve been released along with former UFC heavyweight contender Jailton Almeida.Volkov was unsurprised and unamused by the comments, expecting nothing less. Depending on what happens in Hokit's title fight with Gane, Volkov could have his next opponent lined up in the form of "The Incredible Hok.""He's an adult. He thinks like an elementary school kid. That's it," Volkov said. "This is an answer I could have when I started with my schoolmates. This is not an argument. He fights maybe a grand total of a fight and a half in the organization, and they give him a title shot."Again, this just defines what the belt means. Not opposite. ... Maybe I agree — it's not bad. I can still beat everyone in the roster right now in heavyweight. I can do it easily with a smile, confident, doing all the things for the fight week."I show everyone I have no problem to make the show or conversation with reporters, whatever. It's better for him to face me in the Octagon, and we'll see who is better."