Some fighters wear their stories in scars, others, in ink. Alexander Volkov belongs to the latter. The towering Russian heavyweight has turned his back, quite literally, into a canvas of symbolism and past struggles.
Volkov first revealed his now-iconic samurai tattoo at UFC 254, where he knocked out Walt Harris in the second round. Fans couldn’t look away, not just because of the finish, but because of what was painted across his back.
What is the meaning behind Alexander Volkov’s back tattoo?
As we mentioned earlier, the 38-11 fighter exposed this brilliant piece of ink to the world for the first time at UFC 254. It may be said that the tattoo proved to be lucky for him. For those who haven’t seen it already, it’s a black-colored tattoo of a massive traditional Japanese samurai helmet (kabuto). Completed in 2020, the piece spans his entire back from his shoulders to his lower spine.
Volkov spoke about his then-brand-new tattoo at the post-fight press conference of the Walt Harris bout.
The 37-year-old has also uploaded multiple snaps of the attractive piece of tattoo to his own Instagram profile. The caption to one of them describes the significance of the tattoo quite well. When translated to English, it read, “My alter ego. It’s keeping an eye on you.”
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The Russian providing such a short description has left the tattoo open to many interpretations.
In general, a samurai helmet represents valor, power, dedication, and the capacity to overcome life’s hardships. Volkov mentioning the tattoo as his “alter ego” might prompt fans to view him as a carrier of these qualities that show themselves at appropriate times. However, the noted artist who inked this piece on Volkov’s back described its significance as the confrontation between life and death.
Are there any other tattoos on Alexander Volkov’s body?
Although Volkov doesn’t have other tattoos, his back tattoo didn’t always look the way it does now. The 37-year-old Russian initially had a superb monochromatic ‘stingray’ tattoo in a Maori tribal style that covered the upper part of his back. However, the Moscow native decided to get it covered later on.
The earlier inkwork was of a stingray whose fins stretched towards the left and right sides of Volkov’s back while its sting traced the line of his backbone. A closer look at the tattoo revealed that it also contained a lot of detailing and patterns that form the fins of the stingray. Fans also might have been able to spot a bat if they ignored the lower part of the tattoo.
There are no reports describing Volkov’s vision behind getting this tattoo.
Other than those, Volkov also has the Olympic rings tattooed on his right shin. This is a smaller, simple piece that is occasionally visible during weigh-ins or when he is not wearing shin guards in training.
As he prepares for his next war against Waldo Cortes-Acosta at UFC 328, the samurai on his back will once again “keep an eye” on his opponent—if he ever turns his back, that is—a silent reminder that strength isn’t given, it’s earned through pain, patience, and perseverance.
