Alexander Volkov discussed his perspective on Victory Day and how he instills values in his children despite living abroad. He described the holiday as one he commemorates more with sorrow than joy, expressing gratitude to veterans while lamenting that such events occurred at all. Volkov said he raises his children with pacifist values, using the Soviet-era sentiment of "as long as there's no war" and wishing for peaceful skies. He also reflected on Moscow, stating that five years ago he described it with the words "dirt, traffic jams, construction," but after visiting last summer, he now considers Moscow the best city in the world for both living and beauty.
Alexander Volkov, the number-one ranked heavyweight contender in the UFC, opened up about Victory Day on May 9, sharing a thoughtful and personal reflection on the holiday's meaning for him and how he approaches raising his children while living outside Russia.
The 37-year-old Russian fighter, known as "Drago," said he marks the occasion with more sorrow than celebration. He expressed gratitude toward veterans who lived through the Second World War while also voicing regret that such devastation happened at all. Volkov said he passes pacifist values on to his children, drawing on the old Soviet-era phrase roughly meaning "as long as there's no war," and wishing for peaceful skies above them. At six-foot-seven with an 80-inch reach, Volkov has built a formidable career in the heavyweight division — currently sitting at 40-11-0 and landing an impressive 4.78 significant strikes per minute at 57 percent accuracy for the Strela Team.
Volkov also reflected on his relationship with Moscow, noting that five years ago he summed the city up with the words "dirt, traffic jams, construction." After returning for a visit last summer, however, he said he now views it as the best city in the world for both livability and beauty — a notable shift in perspective for someone who has spent considerable time living abroad.
Why it matters
- Volkov rarely speaks publicly about personal values or life outside the cage, making this interview an uncommon look at the man behind the fighter
- His comments on parenthood and pacifism add nuance to the public profile of one of the heavyweight division's most prominent figures
- As the division's top-ranked contender at 37, Volkov continues to balance a high-level fighting career with life as a father raising children with intentional values
