Dana White Didn't Recognize Alexander Volkov at UFC 333 Presser, Then Claimed He Knew All Along

Dana White either pulled off the world's most committed bit or genuinely forgot who one of his Top 5 heavyweights was. At Thursday's UFC 333 press conference in Abu Dhabi, No. 4-ranked Alexander Volkov walked to the audience microphone, posing as a fan, and asked featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski what it takes to become a UFC champion.

The exchange turned awkward fast. When Volkov pivoted to White with a question about his own heavyweight title path, the UFC CEO appeared completely lost. "How many fights do you have?" White asked. Volkov answered: 51 total, 20 in the UFC. White then asked his age, initially suggesting 28. Volkov is 38.

Volkanovski stood up and whispered in White's ear to clue him in. White kept going: "So what are you looking for? What do you need, sir? How can we help you?" He eventually directed Volkov's question to matchmakers Sean Shelby and Mick Maynard, per Yahoo Sports.

Afterward, White insisted the whole thing was an act. "He thought I didn't know," White said with a laugh, referring to Volkanovski's assist. "He's trying to help me out."

Social media was not buying it. MMA Junkie's Danny Segura wrote, "You can't make this sh*t up." MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew called it "the funniest sh*t that has ever happened at a UFC press conference."

Volkov fights No. 5-ranked Rizvan Kuniev on Saturday's main card. He has been with the UFC for a decade.