Cormier Says Volkov Is Next for the Heavyweight Title — With Two Big Conditions
Event: UFC 334: Gane vs. Hokit — November 14, 2026, Madison Square Garden, New York
Image credit: UFC.com
Alexander Volkov spent UFC 333 fight week asking one question out loud. By Sunday, Daniel Cormier had given him an answer — with two conditions attached.
Volkov beat Rizvan Kuniev by unanimous decision on the UFC 333 main card in Abu Dhabi, with scores of 29-28, 30-27 and 30-27. [1] It was his seventh win in eight fights, the only loss in that run a highly controversial split decision against Ciryl Gane at UFC 310 in December 2024. [2] The question hanging over him all week was simple: what does a man have to do to get a title shot?
Cormier's answer
Speaking on his own YouTube channel after the event, Cormier said Volkov had done enough. "Volkov got a big victory," he said. "I thought Volkov cemented himself as the No. 1 contender as long as Tom Aspinall is not right back after the title fight in November. Or unless Alex Pereira has an insane knockout of Sergei Pavlovich (at UFC 335)." [2]
Cormier was clear about the caveats, and they matter more than the headline. He credited Volkov with greater aggression and a better performance, while adding that a finish would have been better. [1] This was a pundit's case for Volkov, not a UFC announcement. Nobody has booked Volkov into a title fight.
The question that started it
Volkov did not exactly whisper his case during fight week. At Thursday's press conference he asked UFC CEO Dana White directly what it would take to get a title shot, a clip that went viral partly because White did not appear to recognise him at first and pointed him toward matchmakers Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard. [3]
After the win, White stayed non-committal. "He had a good performance tonight, and we'll see what happens next," he said, refusing to commit to a date or an opponent. [3] Volkov himself later said the press-conference question was mostly for fun — part of practising his English and enjoying fight week, not a stunt. [3]
So the timeline is: Volkov asks, White deflects, Volkov wins, Cormier argues. That is the whole story, and it is more interesting than any one piece of it.
The queue Cormier is actually describing
Here is why the two conditions are doing so much work. The heavyweight title fight is already booked: Gane defends the undisputed belt against Josh Hokit at UFC 334 on November 14 at Madison Square Garden. [2] Volkov is not jumping that line. He is waiting behind it.
Condition one is Tom Aspinall, who vacated the belt this year while dealing with a lingering eye issue. If he is cleared and ready after November, Cormier puts him at the front of the line. [2]
Condition two is Alex Pereira vs. Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 335 on December 12 in Las Vegas. If Pereira wins that one in spectacular fashion, Cormier concedes, the star power argument might jump Volkov too. [1][2]
That leaves Volkov in a familiar spot: the most deserving name in the division, and still the one who has to wait for two other people's outcomes. Fans have noticed. The reaction to Cormier's take was less "finally" and more "of course — Volkov has to wait again."
Where this leaves the division
Nothing about Volkov's next fight is decided. What Cormier gave him is a public, on-the-record argument that his UFC 333 win moved him to the front of the queue — behind only a returning former champion and a potential superstar performance.
For the full numbers behind the heavyweight picture, our Heavyweight Title Picture: Volkov, Hokit and Who's Next for the Belt breaks down the contenders, and the Gane vs. Hokit head-to-head preview plus the UFC 334 event page have the November title fight itself.
Volkov asked his question. Cormier answered it. Now the division has to.
Sources
1. MiddleEasy — Daniel Cormier Sees Volkov Title Opportunity, With Two Conditions
2. MMA Junkie — Daniel Cormier: Alexander Volkov next for title shot after UFC 333 win
3. MMASucka — Alexander Volkov demands UFC heavyweight title shot
Fight data compiled from public statistical sources (ufcstats.com) and Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). OctagonStats is an independent database, not affiliated with UFC / TKO Group.