Alexander Volkov shared his perspective on Victory Day (May 9), describing it as a holiday he associates more with sorrow than joy, while expressing gratitude to veterans and relief that such a world conflict ended. He explained that he raises his children with a pacifist mindset emphasizing the importance of peace, reflecting values he learned growing up in the Soviet Union. When asked to describe Moscow five years after previously calling it dirty and congested, Volkov reversed his assessment, now declaring it the best city in the world for living and beauty. He noted the city has become much cleaner and more impressive since his last summer visit.
Alexander Volkov used the occasion of Victory Day on May 9 to share his personal reflections on the holiday, peace, and his hometown of Moscow in a recent interview.
The Russian heavyweight, who competes under the nickname "Drago," spoke candidly about how he approaches May 9. Rather than treating it as a celebratory occasion, Volkov described the holiday as one tied more closely to sorrow, while expressing gratitude toward veterans and relief that a conflict of that scale had come to an end. He added that he is raising his children with a pacifist outlook, prioritizing peace as a core value — something he traces back to his upbringing in the Soviet Union.
Volkov also revisited a comment he had made roughly five years ago, when he had described Moscow as dirty and congested. He reversed that assessment entirely, now calling it the best city in the world for both livability and beauty, crediting significant improvements in cleanliness and overall impressiveness since his last visit during the summer.
At 37 years old, Volkov is the number-one ranked heavyweight contender in the UFC, carrying a professional record of 40 wins and 11 losses. Standing six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach, the orthodox striker from the Strela Team is one of the most physically imposing fighters in the division. He lands 4.78 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 57 percent, numbers that place him among the more productive and efficient heavyweights on the roster.
Why it matters
- Volkov is the top-ranked heavyweight contender, meaning his public profile and personal story carry weight beyond the cage
- His commentary on Victory Day and pacifism offers a rare look at how elite fighters reconcile combat sports with broader values
- The reversal on Moscow reflects a perspective shift that he grounded in concrete observation rather than sentiment alone
