Alexander Volkov shared his thoughts on Victory Day, describing it as a holiday he views more with sorrow than joy. While grateful for the victory and thankful to veterans, he expressed sadness about the war itself and emphasized the importance of preventing such events. Volkov stated he raises his children with a pacifist mindset in the good sense, teaching them the Soviet-era sentiment of "if only there were no war" and wishing for peaceful skies. When asked to describe Moscow in three words five years after previously calling it "dirt, traffic jams, construction," he praised the city's cleanliness and beauty. After visiting last summer, Volkov told teammates in New Jersey that Moscow is the best city in the world for living and aesthetics.
Alexander Volkov used Russia's Victory Day on May 9 to share a reflective and personal message, describing the national holiday as one he approaches with grief rather than celebration.
The heavyweight contender, who fights out of Strela Team and trains in New Jersey, said he feels grateful for the Allied victory and holds deep respect for veterans, but that the war itself brings him sadness. Rather than treating the date as a purely triumphant occasion, Volkov said he focuses on the importance of ensuring such conflicts never happen again. He told interviewers he is raising his children with what he called a pacifist mindset in the good sense, instilling in them the old Soviet-era phrase centered on the wish that there simply be no war, and hoping for peaceful skies above.
Volkov, who stands six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach, is currently ranked number one in the UFC heavyweight division at 37 years old. His record sits at 40 wins and 11 losses, and he has built a reputation as one of the most technically refined strikers in the division, landing significant strikes at a rate of 4.78 per minute with a striking accuracy of 57 percent.
The Russian fighter was also asked to revisit a description of Moscow he gave five years ago, when he summed the city up in three words as dirt, traffic jams, and construction. His view has changed considerably. After visiting last summer, Volkov told his teammates in New Jersey that Moscow is the best city in the world for living and aesthetics, praising its cleanliness and overall beauty.
Why it matters
- Volkov is the top-ranked heavyweight contender, making any public profile piece relevant to the division's landscape
- His comments offer a rare personal window into how an elite fighter at 37 balances competitive career demands with family values
- The Moscow remarks highlight how his life is split between Russia and his New Jersey training base
