At Thursday’s UFC 333 press conference in Abu Dhabi, Alexander Volkov asked featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski a question about becoming UFC champ, prompting an awkward exchange involving Dana White.
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Alexander Volkov stepped up to the microphone during Thursday’s UFC 333 press conference in Abu Dhabi and asked featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski what he should do to become UFC champ.
After a brief, playful exchange, Volkov continued his question while speaking to the rest of the scrum, including UFC CEO Dana White. White appeared, at least initially, to not recognize Volkov, who fights on Saturday’s main card against No. 5-ranked heavyweight Rizvan Kuniev.
White responded to Volkov’s earlier questions with a mix of confusion and follow-ups, asking, “How many fights do you have?” Volkov answered, “Fifty-one total and 20 in UFC.”
Sensing White was not following, Volkanovski stood up and leaned toward White’s ear as if to clue him in about who Volkov was. The back-and-forth continued as White asked Volkov his age and what he wanted.
At the end of the exchange, White laughed at the situation and the moment moved on. The scene was captured in video shown as part of the event coverage.
The awkward Q&A quickly drew criticism and reaction online, with some commenters pointing to Volkov’s status as an established UFC contender. MMA Junkie writer Danny Segura wrote on X that Volkov is “on Saturday’s main card,” has been with the company for a decade and is “a top contender,” adding, “You can’t make this sh*t up.”
Other reactions echoed the same theme. Jed Meshew of MMA Fighting wrote on X that the moment was “the funniest sh*t that has ever happened at a UFC press conference,” saying White “clearly has no idea” it was Volkov even after Volkanovski appeared to clue him in.
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