Alexander Volkov shared his thoughts on Victory Day and his current view of Moscow in a recent interview. Regarding May 9th, Volkov described it as a holiday he observes with more sorrow than joy, expressing gratitude to veterans while emphasizing the tragedy of war. He stated he raises his children with a pacifist mindset, teaching them that preventing war should be the priority, echoing Soviet-era values of peace. On Moscow, Volkov noted a dramatic change from five years ago when he described the city as dirty and congested. After visiting last summer, he now considers Moscow the best city in the world for both living and beauty. He recounted convincing teammates in New Jersey of Moscow's superiority as a city.
Alexander Volkov opened up about Victory Day and his evolving feelings toward Moscow in a recent interview published on May 9th, offering a candid look at the values he holds outside the cage.
The Russian heavyweight, ranked first in the UFC's heavyweight division, reflected on the significance of May 9th with a measured and somber tone. Rather than celebrating the occasion outright, Volkov described it as a day he observes with more grief than festivity, expressing gratitude toward veterans while underlining the human cost of war. The 37-year-old said he is raising his children with a pacifist outlook, emphasizing that the prevention of war should always come first — values he traced back to the Soviet-era spirit of peace.
Volkov also spoke about Moscow, and his view of the Russian capital has shifted dramatically. He recalled describing the city as dirty and overcrowded as recently as five years ago, but a visit last summer changed his perspective entirely. He now calls Moscow the best city in the world for both livability and beauty, and said he has even been making the case to teammates back in New Jersey.
Standing six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach, Volkov has built one of the more decorated careers in UFC heavyweight history. Fighting out of Strela Team under an orthodox stance, the 40-11-0 veteran lands an impressive 4.78 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 57 percent, numbers that place him among the division's most consistent and precise strikers.
Why it matters
- Volkov is currently the top-ranked UFC heavyweight contender, making any insight into his mindset and personal life relevant to fans tracking the division
- His comments on pacifism and Victory Day offer an unusually candid window into the values of one of the sport's most prominent Russian athletes
- The interview comes at a moment when Volkov's position at the top of the heavyweight rankings keeps him firmly in the championship conversation
