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While most men strive to get famous and rich, Alexander Volkov wants to fight for a whole other cause. During the UFC 310 media day, he revealed, “My goal is to have a challenge for myself, to become a better fighter myself, and fights are just a challenge to me to see which level I have right now.” And for that, ‘Drago’ needed someone who could guide him to become the best version of himself. That’s where his training environment comes in, one that blends Russian discipline with international precision. As he gears up for his next bout against Jailton Almeida at UFC 321, every move, every drill, and every spar is meticulously designed to keep the Russian giant at the top of his game. As such, today, let’s take a look at the Russian heavyweight contender’s coaches and the people he usually trains with. After all, it’s the team that often builds a mixed martial artist! Alexander Volkov’s Primary Gym: Strela Team in Moscow At the core of Volkov’s career lies the Strela Team, his primary training base in Moscow. The gym, led by Taras Kiyashko, is a hub for elite Russian talent, combining old-school combat grit with modern MMA strategy. The Russian coach recently took to social media and claimed, “There’s no sense in going to a tournament if you don’t believe that you can win it. And that is the belief I have always had, and that is not going to change.” With this winning mentality, ‘Drago’ got himself 12 wins in his UFC career. But the Strela Team is only part of the equation. As Volkov’s UFC career grew, his preparation evolved, spreading beyond Moscow to include new gyms, coaches, and training philosophies. Key Coaches Guiding Alexander Volkov’s UFC Journey As UFC 310 drew closer, Alexander Volkov could be spotted training at the Porrada Training Center, Las Vegas. He also split his time at the UFC Performance Institute to make sure he left no stone unturned in his training. Along with Kiyashko, the Russian heavyweight sought out help from Marcelo Nunes, Mikhail Zayats, Vladimir Turchenko, Ronny Markes, Ray Seo, and Gavin Pratt. These are the coaches who were in charge of taking Volkov through his training camp in Las Vegas. Talking to Sherdog.com about his training, ‘Drago’ said, “This is the same place and team as in my last few fights. It’s a pretty new team with a lot of heavyweights. A lot of other heavyweights joined us in Nevada for their own training camps. We tried to find some guys with a style like my opponent—kickboxers with good footwork who can fight as southpaws. I feel that my physical shape is much improved. It’s important to be very mindful of one’s physical condition after age 35.” The list of his coaches is indeed a long one, but it doesn’t include his ‘style coach’. If you guessed who I’m talking about, congratulations! You are one of the few who know Volkov loves to have his hair combed during fights. But are you wondering about the fighters who train alongside Volkov? Let’s shift the spotlight to the Russian’s teammates, who have definitely helped the 6-foot-7 fighter achieve greatness in the MMA cage. Alexander Volkov’s Teammates and Team Impact on Success Training at the Strela Team, Volkov often works out with fighters who compete in Absolute Championship Berkut, Eagle FC, and Bellator FC. The Eagle FC heavyweight contender Vladimir Dayneko, ACB and ACA contenders Nikolay Baikin, Alexey Efremov, Eduard ‘Lionheart’ Vartanyan, Sharaf ‘Wolfhound’ Davlatmurodov, and Davlatmurod ‘Lion’ Olimov, are just a handful of names who train alongside the UFC heavyweight contender. There was also a time when Volkov trained with Sergei Pavlovich. But it all turned into a mess when they got involved in a heated rivalry. The former training partners later got to settle their scores inside the Octagon at UFC on ABC 6. It was Volkov who rose victorious via a unanimous decision. However, the duo never really got the chance to make amends. From Moscow’s Strela Team to Las Vegas’s UFC Performance Institute, Alexander Volkov’s training journey reflects the balance between tradition and evolution. Guided by Taras Kiyashko and supported by an elite cast of coaches and sparring partners, Volkov’s preparation is as methodical as his striking, precise, intelligent, and layered with purpose. Now, with UFC 321 fast approaching, Volkov finds himself at another crossroads. Can his team’s synergy and his years of refinement bring him back into title contention?
