Alexander Volkov beat Rizvan Kuniev by unanimous decision at UFC 333 and asked Dana White what he must do for a title shot; no next fight is booked.
From 25 reports by 18 outlets
Latest Volkov beats Kuniev at UFC 333, asks Dana White for a title shot 2 updates 18 outlets
Results
Main card
- Alexander Volkov vs Rizvan Kuniev unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27), R3 5:00 Heavyweight
- Aaron Pico vs Losene Keita TKO (punches), R1 1:14
- Dominick Reyes vs Azamat Murzakanov KO (head kick), R1 2:40
- Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev vs Nikita Krylov TKO (punches), R1 2:38
- Abus Magomedov vs Cam Rowston submission (guillotine choke), R1 1:44
Prelims
- Grant Dawson vs Nurullo Aliev unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27), R3 5:00
- Colby Thicknesse vs Asaf Chopurov split decision, R3 5:00
- Daniel Santos vs Bolaji Oki unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28), R3 5:00
- Kody Steele vs Noah Gugnon KO (punch), R1 3:54
Early prelims
- Iasmin Lucindo vs Nicolle Caliari unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27), R3 5:00
What we know
- Ciryl Gane defends the heavyweight title against Josh Hokit at UFC 334 in November.
- Volkov's win was his third in a row; he celebrated his birthday at the event.
Reported, not confirmed
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Volkov signed a new multi-fight UFC deal ahead of the Kuniev fight.
MMA Fighting
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No next fight has been announced for Volkov, and no response from Dana White to his title-shot request appears in the coverage.
Knockout Daily
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Volkov made the same title-shot question to White at the pre-fight press conference, where White sent him to the matchmakers.
Combat Sports UK
Alexander Volkov used his reach, jab and kicks to control an all-Russian heavyweight fight and edge out Rizvan Kuniev. Kuniev had his best moments in round two with a superman punch and lunging attacks, but Volkov's calf kicks slowed him in the third. Volkov then took his back and hunted a rear-naked choke in the closing minutes, though he could not finish.
Volkov turned the win into another pitch for a title shot. He had crashed the pre-fight press conference on Thursday and asked White the same question, and according to Combat Sports UK, White sent him to the UFC's matchmakers. After the fight he repeated it on the mic: "What should I do to take a title shot? Answer me please."
No answer from White and no next fight for Volkov appear in the coverage. MMA Fighting says he likely awaits the Gane vs. Hokit result in the hope of facing the winner, and that it will be hard to deny him a shot unless Tom Aspinall returns. Before the bout he also questioned the meaning of the belt and, according to MMA Fighting, said he had signed a new multi-fight UFC deal.
Volkov turned the win into another pitch for a title shot. He had crashed the pre-fight press conference on Thursday and asked White the same question, and according to Combat Sports UK, White sent him to the UFC's matchmakers. After the fight he repeated it on the mic: "What should I do to take a title shot? Answer me please."
No answer from White and no next fight for Volkov appear in the coverage. MMA Fighting says he likely awaits the Gane vs. Hokit result in the hope of facing the winner, and that it will be hard to deny him a shot unless Tom Aspinall returns. Before the bout he also questioned the meaning of the belt and, according to MMA Fighting, said he had signed a new multi-fight UFC deal.
- Summary
- Alexander Volkov beat Rizvan Kuniev by unanimous decision at UFC 333 and asked Dana White what he must do for a title shot; no next fight is booked.
- Key points (one per line)
- Volkov beat Kuniev by unanimous decision at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi for his third straight win
In his post-fight interview he asked Dana White what he needs to do to get a title shot
Ciryl Gane defends against Josh Hokit at UFC 334 in November; no next fight for Volkov is announced
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- La Sueur | https://lasueur.com/alexander-volkov-ecoeure-par-sa-defaite-contre-ciryl-gane-24-10-2026
MMA Fighting | https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/516778/alexander-volkov-believes-heavyweight-belt-lost-meaning-with-ciryl-gane-vs-josh-hokit-at-ufc-334
Yahoo Sports MMA / Uncrowned | https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/alexander-volkov-believes-heavyweight-belt-120000127.html
X: @MMAFighting | https://x.com/MMAFighting/status/2113971449237258548
Combat Sports UK | https://combatsportsuk.com/news/2cfc3c47-7d53-4567-8f80-35a527b1992e/alexander-volkov-questions-what-ciryl-gane-heavyweight-belt-means-before-hokit-fight
MiddleEasy | https://middleeasy.com/mma-news/alexander-volkov-heavyweight-belt-meaning-gane-hokit/
Knockout Daily | https://knockoutdaily.com/news/alexander-volkov-torches-gane-vs-hokit-says-the-heavyweight-belt-lost-its-meaning
Heavy on UFC | https://heavy.com/sports/ufc/alexander-volkov-blasts-ufc-heavyweight-title/
Blood & Sweat | https://www.bloodandsweat.ru/2026/10/rizvan-kuniev-podaril-volkovu-tort-na-den-rozhdeniya/
Bloody Elbow | https://bloodyelbow.com/2026/10/24/alexander-volkov-repeats-dana-white-question-from-awkward-press-conference-after-ufc-333-win/
Knockout Daily | https://knockoutdaily.com/news/alexander-volkov-beats-rizvan-kuniev-on-his-birthday-then-calls-out-dana-white-again
Fight Site Croatia | https://www.jutarnji.hr/sportske/fightsite/ufc/ovaj-covjek-zasluzuje-title-shot-aleksandar-volkov-rutinski-obranio-poziciju-u-poretku-15759067
Yardbarker MMA | https://www.yardbarker.com/mma/articles/alexander_volkov_repeats_dana_white_question_from_awkward_press_conference_after_ufc_333_win/s1_17651_44468992
SUPER LUTAS | https://www.superlutas.com.br/noticias/379691/gigante-russo-domina-no-ufc-333-ignora-alex-poatan-e-cobra-dana-white-por-disputa-de-cinturao/
MMA Fighting | https://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/517459/ufc-333-results-alexander-volkov-calls-for-title-shot-after-latest-win-with-decision-over-rizvan-kuniev
Yahoo Sports MMA / Uncrowned | https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ufc-333-results-alexander-volkov-191346180.html
Yahoo Sports MMA / Uncrowned | https://sports.yahoo.com/mma/article/ufc-333-results-alexander-volkov-makes-his-case-days-after-bizarre-dana-white-presser-exchange-191915279.html
Yahoo Sports MMA / Uncrowned | https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ufc-333-results-alexander-volkov-192139167.html
Combat Sports UK | https://combatsportsuk.com/news/d64425dd-41a2-4f6c-9712-24ee3f118c5b/alexander-volkov-beats-rizvan-kuniev-unanimous-decision-ufc-333
FightTime.ru | https://fighttime.ru/news/item/44482-aleksandr-volkov-pobedil-rizvana-kunieva-na-ufc-333.html
Cageside Press | https://cagesidepress.com/2026/10/24/ufc-333-victory-never-doubt-alexander-volkov-tops-rizvan-kuniev/
MMA Insight | https://mmainsight.com/news/alexander-volkov-beats-rizvan-kuniev-by-unanimous-decision-at-ufc-333
Combat Sports UK | https://combatsportsuk.com/news/beef9fd9-d113-44bd-84b6-66397711430d/alexander-volkov-asks-dana-white-what-he-needs-for-title-shot-after-ufc-333-win
Lowking | https://www.lowking.pl/alexander-volkov-pewnie-pokonal-rizvana-kunieva-na-ufc-333/
InTheCage | https://inthecage.pl/ufc-333-alexander-volkov-pokonal-rizvana-kunieva-jednoglosna-decyzja/
Last edited:
Fighters in this story
Ciryl Gane
Alexander Volkov
Rizvan Kuniev
Azamat Murzakanov
Abus Magomedov
Asaf Chopurov
Noah Gugnon
Aaron Pico
Grant Dawson
Daniel Santos
Iasmin Lucindo
Losene Keita
Nikita Krylov
Nurullo AlievHow the story developed
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Volkov beats Kuniev at UFC 333, asks Dana White for a title shot
Bloody Elbow
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Volkov questions belt's meaning, reveals new multi-fight UFC dealMMA Fighting
Sources
Yahoo Sports MMA / Uncrowned
La Sueur
MiddleEasy
Heavy on UFC
Blood & Sweat
Fight Site Croatia
Yardbarker MMA
SUPER LUTAS
FightTime.ru
Cageside Press
MMA Insight
Lowking
InTheCageSummarized with AI from the sources above. Read the originals for the full story.
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