Jeff Monson

Oregon State Beavers

Jeffrey William Monson (born January 18, 1971) is an American-born Russian mixed martial artist, boxer, and submission grappler who competes primarily in the heavyweight division. A professional competitor since 1997, he has competed for the UFC, Strikeforce, DREAM, PRIDE, M-1 Global, Impact FC, World Victory Road, and Cage Warriors. In submission wrestling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Monson is a two-time ADCC World Champion and a no-gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion.

Outside of fighting, Monson, an anarcho-communist, is known for his radical left-wing political views. In 2018, Monson was elected to the city Duma of Krasnogorsk. He is additionally the host of the multi-platform political and social commentary program Monson TV on Russian state-funded RT. In February 2023, Monson began the process of renouncing his American citizenship.

Early life
Monson was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where he also grew up for most of his childhood. He attended Timberline High School and continued on as a Division I wrestler at Oregon State University and at the University of Illinois and was a Pac-10 champion for Oregon State. He also competed at the senior level at USA Wrestling events for a number of years.

Monson received a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Illinois and a master's degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota Duluth, where he was the assistant coach of the wrestling team.

He worked as a mental health professional for five years, both in a crisis evaluation role for Cascade Mental Health in Lewis County, Washington, as well as a child and family counselor. However, having major success in Abu Dhabi Combat Club events and at other mixed martial arts (MMA) shows, he decided to leave the mental health profession to devote himself full-time to MMA.

Martial arts background and nickname
Monson is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and a two-time Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Champion. He is an MMA fighter and has also had three professional boxing bouts. His boxing record is two wins and one draw.

Monson is considered to be one of the world's top submission grapplers. He is a multiple event winner at NAGA, Grapplers Quest and FILA, among other submission tournaments. He is nicknamed "The Snowman" for his performance at the 1999 Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championship. The Brazilian fighters at the tournament gave him the nickname because he came in as an unknown, but beat four Brazilians in a row to win the 88–98 kilogram weight class. As he went along in the tournament and continued to beat his opponents, they said he was like a snowball (white, compact, rolling and getting bigger and stronger as the tournament went on).

Ultimate Fighting Championship
After 14 straight MMA victories, Monson was signed by the UFC.

At UFC 57, Monson submitted Branden Lee Hinkle by north–south choke in the first round. At UFC 59, he fought Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Marcio Cruz (ADCC veteran and longtime rival). Monson won by decision after three rounds. At UFC 61, Monson fought another Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt in Anthony Perosh, whom Monson defeated by TKO in the first round.

On November 18, 2006, at UFC 65, Monson fought Tim Sylvia for the UFC Heavyweight Championship. He lost a five-round decision and would later ask to be released from his UFC contract in the hopes of facing then-PRIDE Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko at a BodogFIGHT event scheduled for March 2007. However, negotiations fell through and the match did not happen during that time.

PRIDE
In the main event of PRIDE 34, on April 8, 2007, Monson defeated Kazuyuki Fujita via rear-naked choke submission at 6:37 of the opening round. This was the final fight in the history of Pride Fighting Championships.

Post-PRIDE
His next fight was scheduled to be against Chris Guillen on August 17, 2007, for the Global Fighting Championships' Heavyweight Championship, but the event was canceled after four of the eight scheduled bouts were removed from the card. Monson lost against Pedro Rizzo at Art of War 3, which was held on September 1, 2007. During the bout, Monson displayed a much improved level of striking, and kept the fight standing virtually the entire time.

On September 7, 2007, Monson won two matches in the FILA World Championship in Turkey, defeating France's Zoro Piere and England's Tom Blackledge by submission. Monson was awarded the 275-pound gold medal when his final opponent Ramon Diaz suffered an injury and was forced to bow out.

Monson defeated former UFC Heavyweight Champion Ricco Rodriguez in the main event of the Mixed Fighting Alliance "There Will Be Blood" event on December 13, 2008. He avenged a loss to Rodriguez from almost seven years prior.

On March 21, 2009, Monson won a controversial decision against Roy Nelson on Roy Jones Jr.'s hybrid boxing/MMA card "March Badness." He then beat Sergej Maslobojev on a Cage Wars card on March 29, 2009. He immediately went to Japan and defeated top Russian Heavyweight Sergei Kharitonov on April 5, 2009, at Dream 8, giving him three wins in two weeks.

On September 12, 2009, at Bitetti Combat MMA 4, Monson had his seven-fight win streak snapped, losing in a rematch with Pedro Rizzo by unanimous decision.

At 5150 Combat League/Xtreme Fighting League: New Years Revolution, Monson defeated John Brown by split decision on January 16, 2010.

On March 13, 2010, Monson fought in France at 100% Fight II and defeated Francisco Nonato by submission (guillotine choke) in the first round. He lost to Travis Wiuff in a split decision at XKL Evolution 2 on April 24, 2010. On May 14, 2010, he lost in Abu Dhabi to Shamil Abdurahimov by majority decision at the Abu Dhabi Fighting Championship in the quarter-finals of the 2010 Openweight Grand Prix.

Monson defeated Bira Lima at Impact FC 1 in Australia on July 10, 2010, by unanimous decision.

Monson faced Jason Guida on August 21, 2010, at an event called "Fight Time 1". He defeated Jason Guida at 3:04 in the second round by a guillotine choke submission.

His next fight was scheduled to be against Neil Wain at "KnuckleUp: Kings of the North," but Neil Wain pulled out of the fight due to injuries. Stepping in to replace Wain was the very man who took him out of the fight, Dave Keeley. Monson defeated Keeley by submission (north–south choke) in the first round.

Monson defeated Sergey Shemetov at the inaugural Israel Fighting Championship event on November 9. After the fight, he said he wanted to drop down to the Light Heavyweight division for his next fight and his friend, Ricco Rodriguez, who later won his fight in the main event, said he wanted to fight Monson in the International Fighting Championships (IFC) at Light Heavyweight.

In 2011, Monson defeated Lee Mein on January 7 and Tony Lopez on April 1 in a five-round decision.

Monson's next fight was against Maro Perak where he won a three-round decision.

Monson said that after he fought in April and May, he hoped the UFC would want him back, but this time he would like to fight in the Light Heavyweight division.

Monson stepped in for injured Shane del Rosario to face prospect Daniel Cormier on the June 18 Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum card in Dallas, Texas, and lost via fight via unanimous decision.

Monson defeated Paul Taylor in Birmingham, England at the Sprawl n Brawl promotion on October 9, 2011.

Monson fought Fedor Emelianenko at M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson on November 20, 2011, in Moscow, Russia and lost by unanimous decision.

Monson was unbeaten in his four fights after the loss against Fedor, and in June 2012 signed a four-fight deal with the Super Fight League in India. Monson was originally announced to fight at SFL 4 on September 29 against former UFC fighter Todd Duffee but after the event was pushed back twice the SFL decided to change the structure of their shows, with weekly events replacing monthly events. Duffee and SFL agreed on his departure in September and he is currently fighting in the UFC. Following this news, the fight was canceled.

From June 2013 to April 2014, Monson would go 1–6 in seven fights, defeating Denis Komkin, and losing to notable fighters such as Alexey Oleynik, Satoshi Ishii, and Mike Hayes. After a loss to up-and-comer Chaban Ka, Monson defeated Kevin Brooks via north–south choke at Fight Time 20 on August 29, 2014.

Monson faced Dmitry Titkov on September 5, 2014, at Fight Star: Saransk vs. Penza. He lost the fight by cut TKO, after a cut opened up on Monson.

Monson then faced Mikhail Shein at Fight Star: The Battle of the Sura 2. He won the fight via rear-naked choke in the second round.

Monson faced Ivan Shtyrkov on 6 May, the promoter and him decided to do an exhibition match due to Monson having an injury that would have forced him out of a legitimate MMA match. When the match started it quickly became clear that Shtyrkov was treating it as a real fight and shortly after dropping Monson with a straight right finished him with an armbar on his injured arm.

On 12 January 2021, Monson announced his official retirement from all forms of combat sports, including both MMA and Submission Grappling.

Arnold Gracie competition incident
In 2004, when facing Márcio Cruz at the Arnold Gracie IBJJF competition, Monson allegedly attacked a referee and caused a brawl following the use of a "can opener" submission. The original attack was not caught on camera, but Monson is shown being restrained by several competition staff and coaches. As a result of this brawl the "can opener" was made illegal in IBJJF competitions. Both Monson and Pe de Pano were barred from competing at the next year's event.

Politics
Monson is an anarcho-communist. He presently hosts a multi-platform (TV/social media) political and social commentary program on Russian state-funded RT, called Monson TV.

In 2015, Monson sought Russian citizenship, citing that he felt "Russian in spirit." He was granted Russian citizenship in 2018 by President Vladimir Putin.

In April 2016, Monson expressed his desire to join the Communist Party of the Russian Federation in a video appeal to the party and praised socialism as "the only way as a human species that we’re going to survive." Soon after, he was invited to meet Communist Party of the Russian Federation leader Gennady Zyuganov in his office in the State Duma, where they discussed the future of communism in Russia and globally. Monson later led a procession across Red Square into Lenin's Mausoleum together with Zyuganov dedicated to the anniversary of Vladimir Lenin's birth. He was appointed as a special representative for international cooperation by the Communist Party of the Russian Federation's Sport Club in June 2016.

Monson was the subject of a party political advertisement released in the run-up to the 2016 State Duma Elections. In an interview, Monson stated his political views as follows: "I am an anarchist, someone who would like to do away with all class hierarchy in society and the institutions that promote this inequality."

Monson is a member of the Industrial Workers of the World.

On September 11, 2016, Monson announced on Twitter that he had become a citizen of the Luhansk People's Republic. He was made an honorary citizen of the Republic of Abkhazia in October 2016 for "supporting nations striving for self-determination".

On September 9, 2018, Monson was elected to the city duma (local city parliament) of Krasnogorsk, a city located near Moscow. Monson won the mandate as a candidate on the list of the ruling party United Russia, which nominated him without membership in the party. To be able to carry out the mandate, Monson had to give up his American citizenship in accordance with Russian law.

Monson has expressed explicit support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In August 2023, Monson was noted in a video for the Russian college course "Fundamentals of Russian Statehood" which is mandatory for all college students in Russia as someone who embraced the "Russian world", a propaganda term for the culture and worldview of Russia. A lecture in the video claims that "Hospitality is one of the traits of the Russian national character. Foreigners are not simply delighted by our [i.e. Russian] culture — they adopt it as their own, becoming part of the Russian world." The same lecture also notes American actor Steven Seagal as another foreigner who has embraced the Russian world. The news site Meduza in an article about the course notes that both Monson and Seagal had become citizens of Russia and both have publicly supported Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. The "Fundamentals of Russian Statehood" course is intended at least in part to explain and justify the invasion.

In September 2023, Monson was elected to the 110-seat State Assembly (kurultai) of the Republic of Bashkortostan as a member of the ruling United Russia party following an election.

Personal life
Monson has two children from his first marriage. He has a daughter from his second marriage. He now has a fourth child from a Russian woman.

In late 2008, Monson spraypainted an anarchy symbol, peace symbol, "no war", and "no poverty" on the Washington State Capitol in photographs published in ESPN The Magazine. Charged with first-degree criminal mischief, Monson pled guilty in July 2009.

On February 16, 2023, Monson declared that he was in the process of renouncing his U.S. citizenship. "This spring, I'll only have my Russian passport," he said, "I do not agree with the American foreign policy, they keep meddling in the affairs of other countries, people are suffer[ing] because of them. Yes, I have children in the United States, but I love Russia and the Russians." On May 23, 2023, Monson officially renounced his American citizenship.

Monson converted to Islam on June 19, 2024 in Moscow.

Mixed martial arts

 * International Sport Karate Association
 * ISKA World Heavyweight Championship (One time; first)
 * Sprawl 'N Brawl
 * SB Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship (One time)
 * Strength and Honor Championship
 * SHC Heavyweight Championship (One time)
 * Cage Warriors Fighting Championship
 * Cage Warriors Heavyweight Championship (One time)
 * Two Successful Title Defenses
 * Ultimate Fighting Championship
 * Knockout of the Night (One time) vs. Anthony Perosh
 * PRIDE Fighting Championships
 * Won the final PRIDE fight
 * X Fighting Championships
 * XFC Heavyweight Championship (One time)
 * SportFight
 * SportFight Heavyweight Championship (One time)

Submission grappling

 * Abu Dhabi Combat Club
 * 2009 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championships Bronze Medalist
 * 2005 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championships Gold Medalist
 * 2001 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championships Silver Medalist
 * 2000 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championships Silver Medalist
 * 1999 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championships Gold Medalist
 * International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles
 * 2012 FILA Grappling World Championships Senior No-Gi Gold Medalist
 * 2011 FILA Grand Prix Espoir No-Gi Absolute Silver Medalist
 * 2008 FILA Grappling World Championships Senior No-Gi Gold Medalist
 * 2007 FILA Grappling World Championships Senior No-Gi Gold Medalist
 * International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation
 * 2007 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championships Black Belt No-Gi Absolute Gold Medalist
 * 2007 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championships Black Belt No-Gi Silver Medalist
 * 2001 Pan American Championships Blue Belt Gold Medalist
 * USA Wrestling
 * FILA World Team Trials Senior No-Gi Winner (2007, 2008)
 * FILA World Team Trials Senior No-Gi Runner-up (2009)
 * On the Mat
 * 2009 Submission Grappler of the year
 * 2004 Submission Grappler of the Year

Amateur wrestling

 * USA Wrestling
 * Northwest Senior Greco-Roman Regional Championship (1998)
 * Northwest Senior Freestyle Regional Championship Runner-up (1998)
 * National Collegiate Athletic Association
 * Pac-10 Conference Championship (1992)

Boxing record
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%" !No. !Result !Record !Opponent !Method !Round, time !Date !Location !Notes
 * 4
 * Loss
 * align=center|2–1–1
 * 🇺🇿 Timer Nikulin
 * align=center|UD
 * align=center|4
 * align=center|Oct 26, 2021
 * align=left|🇷🇺 Concert Hall Mir, Moscow, Russia
 * 3
 * Win
 * align=center|2–0–1
 * 🇺🇸 J.C. Hillard
 * align=center|TKO
 * align=center|2 (4), 2:11
 * align=center|Nov 20, 2004
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Club Ovation, Boynton Beach, Florida, United States
 * 2
 * Win
 * align=center|1–0–1
 * 🇺🇸 Kenyatta Quitman
 * align=center|TKO
 * align=center|2 (4), 2:12
 * align=center|May 15, 2004
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Club Ovation, Boynton Beach, Florida, United States
 * 1
 * style="background: #B0C4DE"|Draw
 * align=center|0–0–1
 * 🇺🇸 Matt Ives
 * align=center|PTS
 * align=center|4
 * align=center|Apr 23, 2004
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Club Med, Port St. Lucie, Florida, United States
 * align=center|0–0–1
 * 🇺🇸 Matt Ives
 * align=center|PTS
 * align=center|4
 * align=center|Apr 23, 2004
 * align=left|🇺🇸 Club Med, Port St. Lucie, Florida, United States

Submission grappling record
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:80%; text-align:left;" ! Result ! style="text-align:center;"| Rec. ! Opponent ! Method ! Event ! Date ! Location
 * colspan=8 style="text-align:center;" | 16 Matches, 9 Wins (4 Submissions), 4 Losses (0 Submissions), 3 Draws
 * colspan=8 style="text-align:center;" | 16 Matches, 9 Wins (4 Submissions), 4 Losses (0 Submissions), 3 Draws
 * Win
 * style="text-align:center;"|9–4–3
 * 🇷🇺 Aleksey Molchakov
 * Submission (Rear-naked choke)
 * Kingdom Professional Fight: Selection 4
 * July 18, 2020
 * 🇷🇺 St. Petersburg, Russia
 * Win
 * style="text-align:center;"|8–4–3
 * 🇺🇸 Warren Brooks
 * Submission (Rear-naked choke)
 * Submission Underground 2
 * December 10, 2016
 * 🇺🇸 Portland, Oregon
 * Win
 * style="text-align:center;"|7–4–3
 * 🇺🇸 Shannon Ritch
 * Submission (Kimura)
 * A-Fight MMA 4
 * October 9, 2016
 * 🇷🇺 Nevinnomyssk, Russia
 * Loss
 * style="text-align:center;"|6–4–3
 * 🇷🇺 Levan Persaev
 * Decision (Unanimous)
 * Octagon Fighting Sensation 9
 * October 6, 2016
 * Sukhumi, Georgia
 * Draw
 * style="text-align:center;"|6–3–3
 * 🇷🇺 Eduard Kuntudaev
 * Draw
 * Red City Fights 6
 * September 4, 2016
 * 🇷🇺 Yoshkar-Ola, Russia
 * Win
 * style="text-align:center;"|6–3–2
 * 🇷🇺 Maxim Kiselev
 * Submission (North-south choke)
 * PRIDE Fighting Show 1
 * April 23, 2016
 * 🇷🇺 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
 * Draw
 * style="text-align:center;"|5–3–2
 * 🇷🇺 Aleksey Budimirov
 * Draw (Unanimous)
 * Fight Stars: Battle on Sura 5
 * April 16, 2016
 * 🇷🇺 Penza, Russia
 * Draw
 * style="text-align:center;"|5–3–1
 * 🇷🇺 Isa Umarov
 * Draw (Unanimous)
 * Kunlun Fight 1
 * January 25, 2014
 * 🇹🇭 Pattaya, Thailand
 * Win
 * style="text-align:center;"|5–3
 * 🇧🇷 Gabriel Gonzaga
 * Decision
 * 2005 ADCC Championships
 * May 28, 2005
 * 🇺🇸 Long Beach, California
 * Loss
 * style="text-align:center;"|4–3
 * 🇧🇷 Ryron Gracie
 * Decision (Points)
 * Ultimate Submission Showdown 2003
 * October 11, 2003
 * 🇺🇸 Torrance, California
 * Loss
 * style="text-align:center;"|4–2
 * 🇿🇦 Mark Robinson
 * Decision
 * 2001 ADCC World Championship
 * April 11, 2001
 * Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
 * Loss
 * style="text-align:center;"|4–1
 * 🇧🇷 Ricardo Arona
 * Decision
 * 2000 ADCC World Championship
 * March 1, 2000
 * Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
 * Win
 * style="text-align:center;"|4–0
 * 🇧🇷 Saulo Ribeiro
 * Decision
 * rowspan=4|1999 ADCC World Championship
 * rowspan=4|February 24, 1999
 * rowspan=4| Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
 * Win
 * style="text-align:center;"|3–0
 * 🇧🇷 Rigan Machado
 * Decision (Points)
 * Win
 * style="text-align:center;"|2–0
 * 🇧🇷 Roberto Traven
 * Decision (Points)
 * Win
 * style="text-align:center;"|1–0
 * 🇮🇹 Fabiano Capoani
 * Decision (Points)
 * rowspan=4| Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
 * Win
 * style="text-align:center;"|3–0
 * 🇧🇷 Rigan Machado
 * Decision (Points)
 * Win
 * style="text-align:center;"|2–0
 * 🇧🇷 Roberto Traven
 * Decision (Points)
 * Win
 * style="text-align:center;"|1–0
 * 🇮🇹 Fabiano Capoani
 * Decision (Points)
 * style="text-align:center;"|1–0
 * 🇮🇹 Fabiano Capoani
 * Decision (Points)