In an interview, Alexander Volkov discussed the significance of Victory Day (May 9), describing it as more of a somber remembrance than celebration. He expressed gratitude to veterans while emphasizing his desire to teach his children pacifism and the importance of avoiding war, values he learned growing up in the Soviet Union. When asked to describe Moscow in three words after five years away, Volkov enthusiastically declared it the best city in the world for living and beauty, a stark contrast to his previous assessment that mentioned dirt, traffic, and construction. Volkov, who visited Moscow last summer, conveyed his strong affection for his hometown to teammates while traveling in New Jersey. The interview provides insight into how the heavyweight fighter maintains his Russian identity while living abroad.
Alexander Volkov opened up about his personal reflections on Victory Day in a recent interview published May 9, sharing thoughts on Russian identity, family values, and his enduring connection to Moscow.
The heavyweight contender described May 9 as a day of solemn remembrance rather than celebration, expressing respect for veterans and a desire to pass pacifist values on to his children — lessons he traces back to his upbringing in the Soviet Union. He also offered a notably warmer portrait of Moscow than he had on previous occasions, describing his hometown as the finest city in the world for both livability and beauty, a reversal from an earlier assessment that had touched on traffic, dirt, and ongoing construction. Volkov, who visited Moscow last summer, made clear to teammates during a stint in New Jersey just how strong his affection for the city remains.
Volkov, known as "Drago," stands six-foot-seven with an eighty-inch reach and currently sits at number one in the UFC heavyweight rankings. The 37-year-old Russian fights out of Strela Team and carries a professional record of 40 wins and 11 losses. He is one of the division's most active strikers, landing 4.78 significant strikes per minute at a 57 percent accuracy rate — numbers that place him among the most technically efficient heavyweights in the sport.
Why it matters
- Volkov is the top-ranked UFC heavyweight contender, making any insight into his mindset and off-camp life relevant to divisional followers
- The interview highlights how he navigates Russian identity while based abroad
- His remarks on pacifism and family offer a rarely seen personal dimension to a fighter whose public profile is almost entirely built around his in-cage output
