Alexander Volkov shared his thoughts on Victory Day and how he raises his children, who live abroad. He described the holiday as more a day of sorrow than celebration, honoring veterans while mourning the tragedy of war. Volkov said he teaches his children a pacifist mindset rooted in the Soviet-era saying, 'if only there were no war,' and hopes for peaceful skies. In a separate comment, he revised his earlier description of Moscow from five years ago—'dirt, traffic, construction'—to praise the city as the best in the world. He noted that Moscow is now very clean, especially in summer, and excels in livability and beauty. Volkov recently returned to Moscow and enthusiastically endorsed it to teammates in New Jersey.
Alexander Volkov used Russia's Victory Day on May 9 to reflect on war, family, and the values he passes on to his children, who live outside the country.
The Russian heavyweight, ranked first in the UFC's 265-pound division at 37 years old, spoke candidly about how he views the holiday. Rather than a day of celebration, Volkov described it as closer to a day of mourning — a time to honor veterans while grieving the broader tragedy of armed conflict. He said he raises his children with a pacifist outlook drawn from a Soviet-era expression that translates roughly as "if only there were no war," and expressed a simple hope for peaceful skies.
Volkov, who stands six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach and carries a professional record of 40 wins and 11 losses under the Strela Team banner, also touched on his relationship with Moscow. He acknowledged that roughly five years ago he had described the Russian capital as a city defined by dirt, traffic, and construction. He has since reversed that view entirely, now calling Moscow the best city in the world. He credited its cleanliness, livability, and summer beauty for the change of heart. After a recent return to Moscow, Volkov reportedly encouraged teammates based in New Jersey to reconsider their impressions of the city.
Why it matters
- Volkov is the top-ranked UFC heavyweight, making any public statement from him a point of attention for the division
- His comments reflect the personal pressures facing fighters with families split across different countries
- The remarks came on a nationally significant date in Russia, adding cultural weight to his words on conflict and upbringing
