Alexander Volkov crashes the UFC 333 press conference asking Dana how he can get a title shot. Gotta give it to Volkov he’s turning it up to get his shot (that he already deserves) Do you think he deserves the next shot with a win? #ufc #mma #ufc333 #alexandervolkanovski #alexandervolkov
Alexander Volkov used the UFC 333 press conference to make a direct pitch for a heavyweight title shot, asking Dana White what he needs to do to earn one.
The Russian heavyweight showed up at the event and put the question to the UFC president in front of the room. The moment spread quickly among fans, many of whom argued he has already done enough to deserve the opportunity. No response from White was reported, and no title fight has been announced.
Volkov, 37, enters the conversation as the number two ranked heavyweight in the division. He holds a record of 40-11-0 and fights out of Strela Team in an orthodox stance. At six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach, he is one of the longest fighters in the weight class, and he puts that frame to work: he lands 4.78 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy.
His recent form backs up the push. Volkov has won his last two recorded fights, both by decision. On May 9, 2026, he took a unanimous decision over Waldo Cortes Acosta at UFC 328. Before that, he beat Jailton Almeida by split decision at UFC 321 on October 25, 2025. His most recent recorded loss came on December 7, 2024, when he dropped a split decision to Ciryl Gane at UFC 310.
Volkov has also shown he can mix in other tools, averaging 0.57 takedowns per 15 minutes and 0.2 submission attempts over the same span, though his reputation rests mainly on his striking.
Why it matters
- Volkov sits one spot from the top of the heavyweight rankings, making his claim to a title opportunity a credible one.
- A win streak built on two consecutive decision victories gives him a recent-results argument, though neither was a finish.
- At 37, his window to fight for a belt is narrowing, which helps explain the public campaigning.
Whether the UFC acts on the request remains to be seen. For now, Volkov has put his name in front of White at one of the sport's biggest media events.
