MOSCOW, February 16. /TASS/. Russia’s US-born MMA (mixed martial arts) legendary fighter Jeff Monson, who also serves as a legislator in the Moscow Region, announced to TASS on Thursday that he is set on renouncing his American citizenship because of his disagreement with the present-day political policies of the United States.

"I am in the process of renouncing my US citizenship," Monson said. "This spring I will be the holder of the Russian passport only. I disagree with US policies because they interfere in the internal affairs of other countries and people suffer because of this."

"Yes, I have children living in the United States, but I love Russia, I love the Russian people," he continued.

"I like everything here and I want to be the holder of a Russian passport only," Monson stressed.

Monson was granted Russian citizenship in May 2018 and in September of that year he was elected as a deputy to the Council of Deputies (legislature) of the Krasnogorsk district in the Moscow Region.

Jeffry William Monson, 52, nicknamed The Snowman, hails from the State of Minnesota, the United States. As a mixed martial arts fighter he boasts a record of 85 fights, chalking up 60 wins. He is also a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion. His last fight was in the Russian city of Belgorod on October 22, 2016, when Monson defeated Alex ‘Bizon’ Kardo of Russia, using a chokehold.

Monson is known for his fondness of Russia and its Soviet past. Many times he kicked off his fights to the tune of the Soviet anthem. In 2016, he received the title of honorary citizen of Abkhazia and in 2017, a passport of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic.