HOBOKEN, NJ (November 15, 2011) – As Jeff “The Snowman” Monson (43-12-0, 2 KOs, 27 Submissions) makes final preparations for Sunday mornings Pay-Per-View showdown in Moscow against Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko (31-4-0, 8 KOs, 16 Submissions), mixed-martial-arts fans around the world are probably wondering why the tattoo covered-Monson has pursued this particular match for more than five years.
Well, for starters, Monson definitely marches to the beat of a different drummer; he’s far from a typical MMA fighter. Jeff is an avowed anarchist who is a member of the Industrial Workers of the World (Wobblies). He also earned a Master’s Degree in psychology.
A black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Monson was a Division I wrestler at Oregon State University, where he was a Pac-10 champion, as well as at the University of Illinois. He later competed on the Senior level in USA wrestling. Now fighting out of Miami, Florida, Jeff is a two-time Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships gold medalist.
Sunday he takes on Emelianenko, who has lost three straight fights, in Fedor’s backyard at Olympic Arena in Moscow, Russia. “Fedor is the best heavyweight of all-time,” Monson said. “It’s an honor for me to fight him. A win would be the highlight of my career. My trainers at American Top Team have prepared me for all possibilities.”
“Battle of the Legends,” presented by M-1 Global, is being distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 7:30 AM/ET – 4:30 AM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network and Avail-TVN, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95. Check listings for same-day replays.