So, I got looking into Alexander Volkov’s back tattoo recently. You see it sometimes during the weigh-ins or post-fight stuff, right? Covers a huge part of his back, pretty hard to miss.
I started off just trying to get a clear view. Fight videos aren’t great for this, too much movement, bad angles. So, I went looking for weigh-in photos, specifically ones from the back. Took a bit of searching to find some decent high-resolution shots where you could actually make out some detail.
Getting a Closer Look
Once I had a few good images, I just spent some time zooming in, panning around. It’s a big piece, looks like maybe some kind of warrior figure? Or maybe a historical scene. The style struck me as possibly having some traditional Japanese influence, but honestly, it’s complex. Lots of flowing lines, heavy shading in areas.
- First step was just observation. What are the main shapes?
- Then I tried to trace the outlines mentally, follow the flow of the design.
- Noticed how it fits his back structure, using the muscles to give it shape.
It’s detailed work. You can tell it wasn’t a quick job. Probably multiple long sessions to get that finished. I remember when I got my first small piece, took a couple of hours and my leg was numb. Can’t imagine sitting for something that size.
Trying to Figure it Out
I tried to see if I could identify specific elements. Is that a helmet? What kind of armor? It’s not super clear just from photos, artists often take liberties. There’s definitely a strong central figure, seems quite imposing. You get a sense of strength from it, which fits a heavyweight fighter I guess.
Spent maybe an hour just comparing different photos, trying to piece together the parts hidden by shadows or angles in some shots. It’s like detective work, almost. You see a bit here, another bit there, and try to form a complete picture in your head.
Honestly, figuring out the exact subject matter wasn’t easy. Could be Slavic folklore, could be something completely personal to him. Without him explaining it, it’s mostly guesswork based on the visuals.
But yeah, that was my little dive into Volkov’s back tattoo. Mostly involved finding good source pics and just really looking closely, trying to understand the composition and the sheer amount of work involved. Pretty impressive piece when you get a good look at it.
