Alexander Volkov shared his perspective on Victory Day, May 9th, stating that while it is a holiday, he thinks of it more with sorrow than joy, grateful for the victory but sad such circumstances occurred. He emphasized the importance of preventing such conflicts and said he raises his children in a pacifist spirit with the phrase "just so there's no war," a sentiment common in the Soviet Union. When asked to describe Moscow in three words five years after previously calling it "dirt, traffic jams, construction," Volkov noted the city is now very clean and stated he considers Moscow the best city in the world for living, beauty, and overall quality. He praised the improvements he observed during his visit last summer and expressed strong pride in his home city.
Alexander Volkov, the top-ranked heavyweight contender known as "Drago," shared his thoughts on Victory Day and his love for Moscow in a recent interview published on May 9th, 2026.
Volkov, 37, reflected on the significance of the May 9th holiday with a measured and personal tone. Rather than approaching it as a cause for celebration, the Russian heavyweight said the occasion brings him more sorrow than joy — grateful for the Allied victory but pained that such a conflict ever took place. He stressed the importance of preventing future wars and noted that he raises his children with a pacifist outlook, invoking a phrase rooted in Soviet-era sentiment: "just so there's no war."
The six-foot-seven Strela Team fighter, who carries a professional record of 40 wins and 11 losses, also revisited a question he had been asked five years prior — how he would describe Moscow in three words. Where he once offered "dirt, traffic jams, construction," Volkov said his perspective has shifted considerably. After visiting the city last summer, he described it as remarkably clean and declared Moscow the best city in the world for living, beauty, and overall quality, expressing unmistakable pride in his hometown.
Why it matters
- Volkov is currently the number-one ranked heavyweight in the UFC, meaning his public profile makes these personal statements noteworthy beyond MMA circles.
- His comments offer a rare window into the values and worldview of one of the division's most prominent figures.
- With an 80-inch reach and a striking accuracy of 57 percent, Volkov remains one of the most technically refined heavyweights in the sport — context that makes any insight into his mindset relevant to fans and analysts alike.
