Tuesday, April 30, 2013
No Holds Barred: Jeff Monson on MMA and May Day
Jeff was originally scheduled to face Magomed Malikov on April 9 in the M-1 Heavyweight Grand Prix quarterfinals, but a pectoral muscle tear forced Jeff to undergo surgery and postpone that fight. He is recovering from this injury, and this fight is now scheduled to take place June 7 on the M-1 card in the Republic of Ingushetia, Russia.
We spoke with Jeff by phone Monday night about this fight, his career, why he is a self-described anarchist, and how he views the sport and business of MMA.
Our discussion took place right before May 1, or May Day, also marked around the world as International Workers' Day.
Asked what his May Day message would be to MMA fighters, Jeff replied, "My message would be solidarity. My message is, 'Be together.' We're all in this whether, like I said, whether you're trying to be a professional fighter or whether you're well-established or at the top of your game. It's the same sport. We're all in it together."
He also quoted the old saying associated with the IWW (Industrial Workers of the World), "'An injury to one is an injury to all.' And it really is."
We discussed numerous topics, including how this fight with Malikov may be "a classic grappler vs. striker match," why he likes M-1's new six-sided ring, how he has become a celebrity in Russia, his fascination with the country and people of Russia, the reaction to his politics, and the need for a fighters' union.
He also pointed out the "shameful" conditions facing MMA fighters, including no such union, no pension, no health insurance, no job security, no retirement, and often low pay, which is even less than boxers get, while they are still fighting. While the formation of a fighters' union is far from imminent, he stated, "It's going to happen," adding that more education of the fighters is needed and that he hopes to take an active role in this struggle.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.
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American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.
Labels: anarchism, Eddie Goldman, grappling, International Workers Day, IWW, Jeff Monson, M-1, May Day, MMA, No Holds Barred, Russia, union
Thursday, August 30, 2012
No Holds Barred: Jeff Monson on Capitalism, Anarchism, Communism, and Jon Jones
On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman speaks with American Top Team MMA fighter and two-time ADCC world grappling champion Jeff Monson.
His next fight is scheduled for the November 15 M-1 Global card in St. Petersburg, Russia, against Alexander Emelianenko.
In his most recent MMA fight, on the June 21 M-1 Global card, also in St. Petersburg, Russia, he defeated Denis Komkin by first-round submission with a north-south choke. For his ring entrance, he electrified the audience by coming out to the national anthem of the U.S.S.R.
The impact of this was instant and unforgettable, as everyone in attendance, including Russian president Vladimir Putin, rose to their feet.
We spoke with Jeff Monson by phone Wednesday night about this event and the message he was trying to send. We then went into a broader discussion about his views on capitalism, anarchism, and communism, including the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Saying fighters are just "a cog in the machine" and "realistically just wage slaves", Jeff Monson focused in on the situation involving the cancellation of UFC 151 and the treatment of UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. We also discussed the prospects for fighters developing some sort of union or association, and much more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.
No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.
Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.
Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.
American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.
Labels: anarchism, capitalism, communism, Eddie Goldman, Jeff Monson, Jon Jones, M-1 Global, MMA, No Holds Barred, Russia, Soviet Union, USSR
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
No Holds Barred: 90 Minutes with Jeff Monson
On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman has a 90-minute discussion with one of the most articulate, opinionated, and erudite but down-to-earth people in the combat sports, American Top Team mixed martial arts fighter and grappler Jeff Monson.
Jeff is also one of the busiest people in the combat sports. He fought this past Saturday, April 24, in the main event of the XKL (Xtreme Kombat League) mixed martial arts show in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he lost a split decision to Travis Wiuff. He will next be competing at a grappling event in France, this Saturday, May 1. After that, he fights in the debut Abu Dhabi Fighting Championship mixed martial arts event Friday, May 14, in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. There he will face Shamil Abdurahimov of Russia in the first round of an extended open-weight tournament. He is also scheduled for a two-day, no-gi grappling tournament put on by Grapplers Quest July 10-11 at the Tachi Palace in Lemoore, California. Also slated to compete in that tournament is noted fighter and grappler Josh Barnett. And do not be surprised if the 39-year-old Monson, a two-time ADCC submission fighting champion, adds more events to his hectic schedule.
Our in-depth discussion not only focused on all these combat sports events, but also on important political and social issues. Jeff is quite outspoken that he is an anarchist, and we thus touched on some current topics including the debate in the U.S. on immigration. We also discussed how some of these issues are related to combat sports, including the motivation for fighters to fight one another, the thug culture in the combat sports, and the need for professional combat sports athletes to have some type of union or association. Jeff is also one of the millions of Americans without health insurance, while earning his living in a dangerous business where injuries are routine and the aim of these sports is to win through hurting your opponent.
This is quite an intriguing, rational, intelligent, and comprehensive discussion, the kind you have come to expect on No Holds Barred.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here. You can also download No Holds Barred here. If one link does not work, please try another. The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", by Ian Carpenter.
Make sure to visit the official boxing forum for No Holds Barred, the MySpace Boxing Forum.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
BJJMart.com, your premier source for all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gear, videos, books, and much more.
American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.
Bragging Rights Corner, for news and always independent opinion about the sport and business of boxing. Check out their web site at http://www.braggingrightscorner.com.
FightBeat.com, for news, results, interviews, and free exclusive videos from the worlds of boxing and mixed martial arts.
Labels: anarchism, Eddie Goldman, grappling, Jeff Monson, MMA, No Holds Barred
Thursday, March 05, 2009
No Holds Barred: Jeff Monson
On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman speaks with the mixed martial arts fighter, grappler, and political activist, Jeff Monson.
Jeff is involved in numerous fights, both in and out of the combat sports. He will be fighting fellow MMA heavyweight Roy Nelson March 21 at the Pensacola Civic Center in Pensacola, Florida, on a joint boxing-MMA card headlined by boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. taking on veteran Omar Sheika. This event will be shown on pay-per-view in the U.S.
Outside of the ring, Jeff is involved in a legal and political battle stemming from a photograph which was published in ESPN The Magazine showing him allegedly spray-painting an anarchist symbol and anti-war and anti-poverty slogans on the Capitol Building in Olympia, Washington. He was later arrested and charged with a felony, first-degree malicious mischief, which has a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
In a lengthy interview, we discuss with Jeff Monson all these issues and more. We talk about why he allegedly painted those slogans, why such stiff penalties are being sought for such a relatively harmless and non-violent act, and what he expects to happen with this case. We talk about his upcoming fight with Roy Nelson, boxing and mixed martial arts, why he was unable to fight on a recent MMA card in Russia, his hopes of competing this year in the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship (in which he has already been a champion), his background in both combat sports and politics, and much, much more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here. You can also download No Holds Barred here. If one link does not work, please try another. The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", by musician Ian Carpenter.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
Gladiator Magazine, for in-depth coverage of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, submission grappling, and MMA, as well as lifestyle articles on surfing, cars, movies, and more. Gladiator Magazine is available at any major bookstore and online at BJJMart.com or Jiu Jitsu Pro Gear.
BJJMart.com, your premier source for all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gear, videos, books, and much more.
Wrestling 411, providing coverage of the sport of wrestling on TV, the Internet, and radio. Wrestling 411 is produced by Media Sports Productions, whose sole mission is the marketing and promotion of the sport of wrestling.
Labels: ADCC, anarchism, boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Eddie Goldman, grappling, Jeff Monson, mixed martial arts, MMA, No Holds Barred, Roy Jones, Roy Nelson, spray painting, UFC, wrestling
