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Russia’s US-born MMA star Jeff Monson says to hang up gloves in November

The athlete added that his last-fight opponents could be either Alexander Emelianenko or Oleg Taktarov

MOSCOW, September 14. /TASS/. Russia’s US-born MMA star Jeff Monson will hang it up after one last fight in November, the fighter told TASS on Thursday.

"I plan to wrap up my [fighting] career with a bout in November," Monson said, adding that his opponent for his last fight could be either Alexander Emelianenko or Oleg Taktarov.

Aleksander Emelianenko, 42, dubbed "The Grim Reaper," holds a record of 28 wins and nine defeats. Aged 56, Russian fighter and movie star Oleg Taktarov, aka "The Russian Bear," has a record of 17 wins and five defeats.

Jeffrey William Monson, 52, nicknamed "The Snowman," hails from the state of Minnesota, USA. In his MMA career, Monson has fought 85 times, 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 he defeated Alex "Bizon" Kardo of Russia, using a chokehold.

Monson announced to TASS on Wednesday that he has been elected to the parliament of the Russian Republic of Bashkortostan following Russia’s Single Voting Day elections.

The US-born MMA fighter was granted Russian citizenship in May 2018 and in September of that year he was elected to the Council of Deputies (City Council) in the Krasnogorsk District, Moscow Region, an inner suburb of the neighboring City of Moscow.

Monson is known for his love of Russia and its Soviet past. On many occasions, he has appeared in the ring to the tune of the Soviet national anthem. In 2016, he was awarded the title of honorary citizen of Abkhazia; in 2017, he became a citizen of the Lugansk People’s Republic in the Donbass Region.

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