Alexander Volkov shared his reflections on Victory Day, describing it as a holiday he observes more with sorrow than joy, while still feeling grateful to veterans and glad for the victory. He emphasized teaching his children a pacifist mindset with the motto "as long as there is no war," continuing Soviet-era values he was raised with. Volkov also revisited comments he made five years ago when he described Moscow with three words: "dirt, traffic jams, construction." After visiting again last summer, he dramatically revised his opinion, now calling Moscow the best city in the world for both living and beauty. He told teammates in New Jersey that he considers Moscow superior in all aspects, noting how clean and impressive the city has become.
Alexander Volkov took time on Victory Day, May 9, to reflect publicly on the holiday's meaning and to share a striking reversal in his feelings about his home city of Moscow.
The Russian heavyweight, known as "Drago," spoke thoughtfully about how he experiences Victory Day — less as a celebration and more as a moment of somber gratitude toward veterans who lived through the conflict. He described instilling a pacifist outlook in his children, built around a philosophy he summarized as "as long as there is no war," a value system he traces back to his Soviet-era upbringing.
Volkov, 37, is currently ranked number one in the UFC heavyweight division with a career record of 40 wins and 11 losses. Standing six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach, he remains one of the most physically imposing fighters in the sport, and his numbers back that up — he lands 4.78 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 57 percent.
The fighter also addressed remarks he made five years ago in which he described Moscow in blunt terms: dirt, traffic jams, and construction. After returning to the city last summer, his view shifted entirely. Training out of New Jersey with Strela Team, Volkov told teammates that Moscow is now, in his estimation, the best city in the world for both livability and beauty, praising how clean and transformed it has become. The reversal was, by his own account, dramatic.
Why it matters
- Volkov offered a rare personal window into how a top-ranked UFC fighter processes national identity and family values away from competition
- His comments on Moscow reflect a perspective shaped by years living and training in the United States
- As the number-one ranked heavyweight, anything Volkov says publicly draws attention ahead of a potential title picture appearance
