Monson competed in Division I as a wrestler at the University of Oregon and the University of Illinois, and was a Pac-10 champion. For several years he performed highest level in American wrestling. He had three fights in the professional boxing ring. His result is two wins and a draw. He is a two-time winner of the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship and NOGI World Champion. He is the current heavyweight title holder of the International Sport Karate Association and the Strength & Honor Championship. Member of the American Top Team based in Coconut Creek, Florida. Jeff holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has 46 wins and 13 losses in mixed martial arts. Jeff has a master's degree in psychology and worked in that specialty for several years (crisis diagnostics, and as a family and children's counselor) before becoming a professional fighter.
He is one of the best mixed style fighters in the world in fighting on the ground, where he forced opponents to surrender after a suffocating or painful hold (28 wins). He won such competitions in "NAGA", "Grapplers Quest" and "International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles". Nicknamed The Snowman after his 1999 performance at the Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championship. The nickname was given to him by Brazilian fighters after Monson, unknown to the general public, defeated four Brazilians in weight class 88-98 kilograms. As part of the tournament, he continued to defeat opponents and was like a snowman: white, compact, rolling and getting bigger and stronger as the tournament progressed.
Beliefs
Jeff Monson describes himself as an anarchist and anarcho-communist. So, in an interview, he said: "I am an anarchist, one who wants to do away with the class hierarchy in society and those institutions that give rise to this inequality." Jeff is in the IWW, sponsored by AK Press, and has several anarchist tattoos on his body, including (on his right shoulder) the Russian words for "freedom" and "solidarity."
On January 14, 2009, Monson was charged with malicious damage to property in the first degree for committing an act of vandalism by painting symbols of anarchy and peace with paint, as well as signing "no poverty" and "no war" on the pillars of the Washington Capitol. The warrant was issued by the Thurston County Chief Justice when photographs of Monson spray-painting appeared in ESPN magazine. On July 29, 2009, Monson pleaded guilty and received 90 days' work and a $21,894 fine.
Fights in the professional ring
November 2011
On November 20, 2011, a fight between Jeff Monson and Fedor Emelianenko took place in Moscow. According to the results of three rounds, Fedor won on points. According to the press secretary of the Prime Minister of Russia, after the fight, the audience "googled" at Monson leaving the hall. A number of media outlets and eyewitnesses indicate that the negative reaction and whistling were directed not at Monson, but at Vladimir Putin, who was at that moment in the ring.
June 2012
On June 21, 2012, a fight between Jeff Monson and Denis Komkin took place in St. Petersburg. Monson won by submission (North-South).
Best of the day
It also drew attention to the fact that Monson, a US citizen, went to battle under the Anthem of the USSR.
November 2012
November 15, 2012 in St. Petersburg, a fight took place between Jeff Monson and Alexander Emelianenko. Monson won by submission (north-south) in the fourth minute of the second round. Immediately after the fight, while still in the ring, Alexander Emelianenko announced that he wanted to have another fight with Jeff Monson. Monson answered vaguely, saying that he respects the Russian people.
Being true to his custom to surprise, this time Monson entered the battle to the song of the Russian group "Lube" - "Combat", earning the applause of the audience.
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Saint Paul (Minnesota), USA
American and Russian athlete, winner of mixed martial arts and Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournaments, political activist.
BIOGRAPHY
Jeff Monson was born into a military family and a nurse. His father died when the boy was only two years old, but his mother, uncle and everyone else surrounded Jeff with care. Once he even admitted that he was a little spoiled by attention.
As a child, the future fighter played football and baseball. At first he just liked to play, but over time he began to take the sport seriously. At 15, Jeff tried wrestling and was taken by it. He liked the confrontation with an opponent one on one and the fact that success depends only on himself, on his own efforts in training.
In high school, Monson won championships in Greco-Roman wrestling, traveled to national competitions. In college, he continued his training, became one of the best wrestlers in the country, in parallel with his studies, he helped the coach of the university team. Then Jeff received a degree in psychology and worked in his specialty for several years: he dealt with difficult teenagers, consulted people with mental disorders. But he also did not quit sports, he began to try other types of wrestling. He still really wanted to compete and, in the end, after some success in various tournaments, he decides to leave the practice and become a professional fighter.
SPORTS CAREER
At one of his first major tournaments, the Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission World Championship, he earned the nickname "The Snowman". Jeff Monson, then unknown to anyone, won several fights in a row, “overgrown” with victories and received gold. It seemed to the opponents that he resembled a snowball, rapidly increasing in size during the championship. Jeff himself is pleased with his nickname and even got himself a tattoo of a snowman.
Monson soon signed his first contract with the world's largest mixed martial arts tournament organizer, the UFC. However, at that time, his striking technique left much to be desired, so he lost two out of three fights and was fired. Jeff continued to train, focused on striking techniques and even had several fights as a boxer. His level has grown significantly, he won a series of 13 victories, becoming the champion of several organizations at once. In 2007, Monson was again invited to the UFC, and this time everything went well. Monson spent perhaps his best fights and won the right to fight for the title of champion.
Then Jeff Monson played in other organizations, including Pride FC, Strikeforce, M-1. In total, he now has 85 fights in his account. mixed martial arts oh and victory over such famous athletes, like Roy Nelson, Sergey Kharitonov, Alexey Oleinik, Kazuki Fujita, Alexander Emelianenko.
Jeff Monson VS Fedor Emelianenko
In November 2011, Jeff Monson fought the famous Russian fighter Fedor Emelianenko. This fight was previously called the fight of legends.
The day before, Fedor spoke about his opponent: "Jeff is very patient, hardy. He fought with eminent fighters. His defeats are mainly on points, he is very strong-willed."
For three rounds, Fedor had the advantage. With one of the blows, he broke Jeff's leg, but Monson did not give up. As a result, the judges awarded the victory to Emelianenko, but this fight became one of the brightest in the career of the famous Snowman and brought him the love and respect of millions of Russian fans.
Achievements
- Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion
- Double champion grappling world ADCC
- FILA Grappling World Champion
- MMA (mixed martial arts): 59 wins, 25 losses, 1 draw
POLICY
Jeff Monson is known for his anarchist and anti-fascist views. He is faithful to the ideals of freedom and dreams of putting an end to class inequality in society.
“I was born and raised in a typical American family, where everyone is used to unconditionally supporting their country and government. At the university, I happened to attend a lecture by a professor from India. spheres. It excited me. I spoke with the scientist for a long time after his speech. This meeting changed my life forever. I took up the problem closely, re-read a bunch of literature, "Monson told Lenta.ru.
The second turning point was the signing of a contract with the UFC. Jeff's sports career went uphill, he began to travel a lot, visited Brazil, Nicaragua, and the Philippines. With his own eyes, he saw poverty, children who have nothing to eat while international corporations get richer day by day and do nothing. So Monson came to his worldview.
Professionally, Jeff is not yet involved in politics, but he is trying to change the world with his own methods. He conducts free seminars and workshops for children around the world, opened a sports school in Nicaragua, participates in demonstrations in his homeland, and writes articles.
In 2009, photographs appeared in the press in which Jeff Monson writes "no war" and "no poverty" on the columns of the Washington Capitol. For this, he received three months of corrective labor and a fine of several thousand dollars.
In 2015, Monson donated his fee for winning the "Oplot 108: For the Glory of the Fatherland" tournament to the children of Donbass who are suffering from the war.
Russian citizenship
A few years ago, Jeff Monson stated that he would like to have Russian citizenship. It turned out that the American fighter had been interested in Russia since childhood, read a lot about the revolution, was fond of history Soviet Union. When he first came to Russia in 2011 to fight Fedor Emelianenko, Monson was amazed at the warm welcome he received here.
“After the battle, I stayed in your country for some time, and then came here again and again. I met new people, traveled around the country, and wherever I ended up, I felt at home everywhere. Everyone opened the doors to their house for me, people behaved as if I were part of their family. I feel that Russia is my home. I learned a lot about history and culture. It seems to me that I am already Russian, so I decided to become Russian officially, "the fighter explained his desire to the portal Sportbox.ru.
Jeff Monson visited more than 30 Russian cities, was in Siberia, saw Baikal. He made many new friends. Jeff is learning Russian very hard, he already knows more than 1000 words and can build simple phrases.
In Russia, Monson plans to work actively, perform under Russian flag in tournaments and discover sports schools for children. In addition, he began to write about politics and public life in Komsomolskaya Pravda. On this moment two of his columns have already been published.
In 2015, information appeared in the media that Jeff Monson had officially become a citizen of Russia. The athlete entered the fight against Cameroonian Donald Njatahi under the Russian flag. But it turned out that Monson did not have a Russian passport then, and the organizers of the tournament hurried with the announcement.
Russian citizenship was granted to Jeffrey Monson in 2018. The corresponding decree was signed by President Vladimir Putin.
PERSONAL LIFE
Jeff Monson has been married twice. In his first marriage, he had a son, Joshua, and a daughter, Michaela. Both are college students, Michaela followed in her father's footsteps and chose psychology.
In 2010, Monson married for the second time. His chosen one was a flight attendant named Daniella, they met when Monson was flying from the next fight. In the same year, the couple had a daughter, Willow.
Jeff strives to be a good father and spends every free moment with his children. He discusses sports and college activities with them, plays with her youngest daughter in her favorite games. And despite the fact that Willow lives in Miami, the elders in Seattle, and Monson himself is constantly on the road, they communicate quite often.
A few years ago it became known that Jeff Monson was dating a Russian girl Alesya, but, apparently, this relationship did not last long.
TATTOO
"I have a lot of tattoos on different topics. That's my hobby. I like it"- Jeff Monson once dropped in an interview. A lot is putting it mildly. There are more than forty of them on the body of an athlete, and he himself, perhaps, will not name the exact number. Drawings can be divided into three groups: family, political and those made for fun.
Monson got his first tattoo at the age of 19. It was a scorpion on the right shoulder. But this drawing did not mean anything to him, so after a while a big star appeared on this place and the inscriptions "freedom" and "solidarity", which speak for themselves.
Among Monson's tattoos there are many images of his favorite fairy tale characters. For example, a gothic fairy or an American comic book character named Lenore. "This is a dead girl who is both good and bad. She has kind heart but she does bad things, plays pranks on people. It sort of symbolizes me in the past, I did bad things, I had problems with the law, I did graffiti on the walls, I was detained by the police, but I always had a good heart, it’s just that society didn’t always like my actions,” Monson said. .
According to experts, such pictures may have a subtext: despite the stern appearance, in the soul of their owner, most likely, a child and a rather sentimental person. However, the fonts of some of the inscriptions give out a cool temper, and a black cat on the left shoulder hints that Jeff is a real threat to his opponents.
Monson made some tattoos during his visits to Russia. In particular, the image of the "Motherland" on the thigh. Jeff admitted that he experienced an emotional shock when he was in Volgograd and visited Mamaev Kurgan.
The fighter calls the handprint of his daughter Mikaela one of his favorite tattoos. “First, they made an impression of her palm on paper, and then enlarged it and transferred it to my body,” said Jeff.
- Jeff Monson doesn't like winter boots. In any weather, he wears slates or ordinary sneakers. And no Russian frosts affect his habits.
- Before important fights, the athlete ... paints his toenails! Now this is his ritual, and it all started with the fact that one day Jeff's little daughter painted his nails for fun. Monson went into battle with a bright pink pedicure - and won.
- The athlete was offered several times to act in films, but so far to no avail. Shooting schedules do not match Monson's schedule.
- Many were surprised to note that the fighter eats while standing. But this is not a whim. Monson had a serious back injury, so he can't sit.
- Jeff Monson listens to Rage Against the Machine and System of a Down, loves Guy Ritchie films, and calls Leo Tolstoy his favorite writer.
- Jeff's youngest daughter Willow was not even five years old when she attended her first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training.
INTERVIEW
About fear
"I've had a lot of fights, but every new one I go out with caution. It's not the fear of pain or injury. I'm terribly afraid of losing."
About working as a psychologist
“People often came to me and said that my child behaves badly, does not go to school, indulges in drugs or something else. But there has never been a single case that there was a good family, and the child suddenly turned out so bad. 100% of the cases, the problem lies in the family."
About champions
When you go into a fight, you're determined to try your best to win. But how many people have the strength and willpower to train years before this fight? When it's hard, you're tired, but you keep training. You have an injury, but you still have to train-train-train and prepare to win the fight. To me, that's what makes you successful. That's what separates just good guys from great guys, from champions.
About purpose
"I want to be remembered after death not only as a famous fighter MMA but also how about good father and a caring person who strove to embrace the immensity and do as much as possible for those around him."
Based on materials from sites en.wikipedia.org, europe.newsweek.com, snowmanseminars.com, lenta.ru, sportbox.ru, sportstories.rsport.ru, akboxing.ru,kp.ru, mk.ru and the program "All Inclusive" of the TV channel "Russia 2".
Jeff Monson is a popular mixed martial artist who has now retired from his career. During his time in the sport, he became a two-time world champion in wrestling and in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Jeff is originally from America, but already in adulthood decided to obtain Russian citizenship. Because he felt like a Russian in his soul. Monson during his career often went out under the works of Russian performers.
The beginning of the sports path
Jeff Monson was born on January 18, 1971 in Saint Paul. As a teenager, he took up classic wrestling. Monson began performing at various youth competitions. Over time, this wrestler began to master other types of martial arts.
He spent most of his time grappling. This is a dynamic type of wrestling in which the fighters try to quickly apply a painful or suffocating hold to the opponent. And also Jeff tried to achieve high results in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Jeff Monson, after graduating from high school, entered the University of Illinois, where he received a bachelor's degree in psychology. In this specialty, Jeff worked for several years, while simultaneously practicing martial arts. He understood that he would not be able to combine the two professions. After a successful performance at the world championship, the fighter left his job and devoted himself entirely to martial arts.
Getting into the UFC
Jeff Monson came in at the age of 26. At first, things did not go well for him, and after that he managed to win the world championship in grappling. After this outstanding event, Jeff signed a contract with the UFC association. But there it was hard for this fighter to compete against experienced athletes.
Jeff Monson suffered two losses in three fights, and the association sent him to play in less prestigious tournaments. Jeff realized that in order to return to the elite, he needed to work hard. This fighter began to hone his striking technique, which used to be his weak point. After hard training, Monson's career went up. He won 13 fights and began to win tournaments. In 2006, this fighter, thanks to his victories, returned to the UFC again. There he was given the nickname "Snowman".
Continuing a career
After returning to UFC fighter Jeff Monson won confident victory over rising martial arts star Marcia Cruz. Then they defeated a few more fighters, and Jeff had to fight Tim Sylvia in the final. Monson lost that fight. This made the athlete very angry, and he again left to play in less prestigious leagues, where medium-level fighters and veterans fought.
During his career, the American fighter fought over 80 fights, in which he won 58 victories. Jeff Monson's statistics are certainly not outstanding. But he could defeat any opponent. That is why this fighter is an uncomfortable opponent. Especially the audience noted his bright performance against Alexander and Fedor Emelianenko.
Fights against the Emelianenko brothers
In 2011, a significant event took place for all fans of martial arts. Fighter Jeff Monson met with the legendary Fedor Emelianenko. The fight promised to be spectacular and equal. Jeff Monson's weight was over 100 kilograms, and he was well versed in wrestling skills. This fight by decision of the judges was won by Fedor Emelianenko.
The very next year, a fight took place in St. Petersburg, in which Monson fought against Alexander Emelianenko. The American fighter was full of desire to rehabilitate himself for the defeat in Moscow from Fedor. Monson, in the fourth minute of the second round, carried out a successful choke hold and won the fight. Alexander demanded revenge, but Monson did not give an exact answer. There was no re-battle between these fighters.
The American surprised all the spectators by entering the battle to the song "Lube" - "Combat". The fans were delighted with this and applauded the athlete. It was not the first time that Monson went into battle to the accompaniment of the patriotic works of our country.
Performances in the series "Colosseum"
September 16, 2013 in St. Petersburg, the audience saw a vivid spectacle. At the tournament New story» series "Colosseum" came together the strongest heavyweights. The notorious Denis Komkin became Jeff Monson's rival.
The fights were held by the American fighter won by split decision. Then he had another spectacular fight against Satoshi Ishii. There have always been many fans of this fighter among Russian spectators. After all, he had several spectacular fights in our country.
Problems with the law and obtaining Russian citizenship
Jeff Monson has repeatedly told reporters that he is against the class hierarchy in society. In the tattoo, Jeff Monson shows his attitude to the injustice of our time. He has many anarchist tattoos. In addition, on his body you can see inscriptions in Russian, Japanese and English language.
In 2009 Jeff Monson was arrested. This news immediately went around the world. This athlete painted inscriptions about peace and equality on the state object. Long legal proceedings began. Monson temporarily suspended his career as a fighter. The court found Jeff Monson guilty and sentenced him to 90 days in prison and a fine of $20,000.
In 2013, popular fighter Jeff Monson announced that he plans to change citizenship: inside he feels Russian in spirit and wants to get a Russian passport. He officially became a citizen of our country in 2015.
Athlete's personal life
Jeff Monson got married at the age of 20. In marriage, he had a daughter, Michaela, and 3 years later, a son was born, who was named Joshua. After many years of marriage, the couple separated. In 2010, Monson went down the aisle for the second time. His wife was the stewardess Daniela Dagan. They met on the plane. Jeff and Daniela have a daughter, Willow. But the second marriage did not last long.
The popular fighter tries to see his children as often as possible. After the official divorce, Jeff Johnson briefly dated Russian girl Alesya Kartseva.
Participation in the Russian TV project
Popular fighter Jeff Monson in Russia regularly gives interviews and often holds master classes for young people Russian athletes. Most recently, he took part in the show "Dancing with the Stars." His partner in the project was a professional dancer. Jeff trained a lot to perform well in a TV show. His sports character and diligence helped to master new movements. This popular fighter has been trained in tango, Viennese waltz and other ballroom dances. Fans from all over the world watched with interest how their idol would perform on an unfamiliar stage for him.
Jeff Monson at present
The fighter for a long time did not want to complete his professional career. He participated in even little-known tournaments. Jeff has repeatedly stated that he is a fighter and wants to fight. Although he understands that by opening his own school, he could earn more. His name would draw a lot of attention to her.
The biography of Jeff Monson is full of ups and downs. This fighter was forced to play in the lower leagues of America several times. But he returned again and defeated eminent opponents. Monson loved wrestling on the ground. Therefore, it was difficult for many drummers to impose their fighting style on him. Jeff Monson's statistics are not outstanding. But at the peak of his career, he won a large number of fights in a row.
- a unique phenomenon in the world of sports. No, he is not a record holder, he did not beat Tyson, did not overtake Bolt and did not jump higher Bubki. In his track record enough losses. Perhaps even more than even the average fighter needs. But he continues to be unique and holds the attention of the sports media even at 44, when normal fighters are already retiring and nursing kids.
But especially the soul of Russian fans has become attached to Monson - his rebellious spirit is painfully close to the Russian soul, always looking for something.
Russia and USSR
Yes, and Jeff himself feels this, understands and, unlike many, many Americans, instead of fear and hatred towards our country, he feels respect and even love.
He's been visiting us a lot lately. But Monson comes to Russia not for money or fame. Between fights, he travels a lot around the country, gives master classes, free for children and paid for adults, visits schools, hospitals and orphanages, donates to charity.
During one of his fights, where he happened to be Russian President Vladimir Putin, Monson forced the Russian head of state to greet himself standing up - he simply entered the ring to the anthem of the Soviet Union, which, if without words, repeats the current Russian anthem. How could you not get up.
We love him, even though he beat one of our heroes - Alexandra Emelianenko. The latter, by the way, is now under arrest on suspicion of rape. to his brother Fedor, Monzon, however, lost. But he lost in his own way, not in the way that many others did - he refused to lie down and admit defeat until the very end. To prevent Fedor from killing him, the seconds had to literally carry Jeff out of the ring.
Jeff Monson and Fedor Emelianenko. Photo: RIA Novosti / Vladimir Astapkovich
“I have heard such an expression that “Russia is a mystery country shrouded in mystery.” Russia combines both Europe and Asia; no other country in the world has such diversity. It's unique. There are people of different races, they coexist together and are united in one big culture. A culture unlike any other. It is very interesting. Russians are capable of doing more difficult things than Americans, passing more difficult tests and moving on. And one more thing, political things. America, she's trying to become an empire. We have about 100-150 military bases around the world. And we're trying to control the world. Russia's army is not of such a focus. It is not aimed at the world. This is also a big difference, ”the valetudo.ru portal quotes the fighter.
On the shoulder of the famous american fighter mixed style the words “fighter”, “freedom” and “solidarity” are written in Russian. Huge crossed hammer and sickle flaunt on the lower leg. A red-black star "burns" on the chest - a symbol of anarcho-communism. And one of the tattoos on his leg, however, in English, Monson did in Orenburg.
Jeff Monson. Photo: RIA Novosti / Alexey Druzhinin
Anarchy Mom
Tattoos are not just a tribute to fashion. In them, Monson expresses his convictions that this American is an anarchist. He is in the anarchist international organizations, sponsors publishers of anarchist literature out of his own pocket, and draws inspiration from a famous Russian philosopher and, of course, anarchist Mikhail Bakunin, whom Jeff calls his only human idol.
Monson is ready to suffer for his beliefs - in 2009, a US court sentenced him to 90 days in prison for painting a sign of peace and two inscriptions "no poverty" and "no war" on the walls of the Capitol in Washington.
With poverty and war, the American continues to fight today. While his home country imposes more and more sanctions on Russia because of the events that are taking place on the territory of Ukraine, and even thinks of providing official Kiev with military assistance in the fight against the Donbass militias, Jeff donates his fees for the battle to ordinary residents of Donbass, who every day suffer from this carnage.
And all this, all of the above coexists in one body with the sweetest soul of a person who simply loves to mess with children, and by education he himself is a child psychologist. On right leg he has a tattoo of one of the children's cartoon characters, a cute kitty. Often this tattoo is in harmony with the toenails, which Monson paints pink before each fight. This has nothing to do with his beliefs - this is a sign that went after one of the battles won. The day before the fight, Monson's daughter jokingly painted her father's toenails pink, and he did not wash off the varnish. The fight was won. Since then, Jeff has entered every fight with pink toenails and a good-natured smile on his face.
