Anarchist MMA fighter Jeff Monson won the ISKA heavyweight title by defeating Tony Lopez in Florida earlier this month.
Monson managed to grind-out a five-round unanimous points decision in the fight for the new ISKA heavyweight (over 205lbs) MMA Championship belt. This win over Tony Lopez (himself 23 wins, 6 losses, so no slouch) marks Monson's second MMA career championship belt, having been former Cage Warriors HW champ. While a highly decorated as a grappler, having been twice ADCC champ (1999 and 2005), in his 41-win mixed-martial arts career Monson hasn't captured as much gold as he'd perhaps like.
This win suggests the 40 year old isn't ready to give up hopes of getting back to the top. In late 2006, Monson lost a five-round decision against Tim Sylvia for the UFC HW title. He then left the UFC organisation and has since not been competing against the same calibre of opponent, but has instead racked up steady win streaks, and is currently unbeaten in his last 8 fights, including victories over Roy Nelson (now UFC) and Sergei Kharitonov (now Strikeforce) in 2009.
In terms of his future, Monson is hoping the UFC will call again, and is willing to drop to 205lbs (light-heavyweight). In an interview after the fight he said, "I fight April 30th in Switzerland[....] after that I gotta fight in France, after that hopefully the UFC will call... looking maybe to cut to 205, if that's on the cards".
The openly political Monson was charged in 2009 over an alleged graffiti incident on the Capitol Building and an army recruitment centre in Olympia, Washington, USA. Authorities claim that the graffiti, which included circle-As, a peace symbol and phrases such as "no poverty" and "no war", cost apparently $19,000 to clean up. In October 2009 he was ordered to serve 90 days of work release while on electronic home monitoring, a punishment that will allow him to work to pay off the $21,894 in restitution.
Monson pleaded guilty to first-degree malicious mischief and second-degree malicious mischief for vandalism as part of a plea deal in exchange for the sentencing recommendation.
Monson has used fight press-conferences to criticise the US military presence in Iraq, and has been vocal about his wish to see the state and class society abolished. Monson had been involved with IWW in his home state, and last year, took time out before his fight at Cage Wars in Belfast to talk to local anarchists and fight fans about sport and politics. In previous years Jeff has met with anarchists in Manchester Solidarity Federation and CNT-Vignoles in Paris.
It will be interesting to see how Monson would cope at 205lb. When he won his first ADCC grappling title he was at a similar weight to light-heavyweight, and his early MMA fights were at that weight. The fighters at 205 will be faster but smaller than Monson's recent opponents, at 5ft 8inch, Monson often struggled with reach against the +205 pounders, particularly against Tim Sylvia. Assuming he can make the cut to 205 again, and doesn't lose too much of his trademark strength, it'll be interesting to watch. It would be optimistic to suggest he'd handle top 205 guys now, but on an 8-fight win-streak, he certainly deserves a final shot in the UFC.
His next fight is next week against Maro Perak in Switzerland at Stength & Honor Championship 4. He will have one more fight at heavyweight after that, before his potential move to light-heavyweight.
Comments
Monson is 40. What age do
Monson is 40. What age do MMA's usually hang up their gloves?
Well, Randy Couture's
Well, Randy Couture's fighting Machida this weekend in UFC and he's 47!
Couture won the HW title at 43yrs old (against Sylvia, who Monson couldn't beat), so who knows.
MMA is still a very young sport, with the regulated version only really starting in the mid 90s and experiencing exponential growth in the last few years.
That means there's still a small talent pool compared to other sports meaning that people who were 'there at the start' can last longer than if everyone had been doing it since they were 8yrs old, like say football.
Remember, lots of boxers keep going into their 40s too!
Thats pretty amazing about
Thats pretty amazing about randy. Yep davie Weir is 40 and was playing today for rangers. I just thought that with injuries and stamina that MMA's didn't last too long, how wrong was I.
Choccy wrote: Remember, lots
Choccy
And they probably shouldnt, due to the repeated head trauma. Which isnt so much of a factor in MMA, so its probably safer for MMA fighters to carry on into their 40s than it is for a boxer.
Would it be inappropriate to
Would it be inappropriate to mention that Couture maintains a vegan diet when he trains?
as much as i would love to
as much as i would love to see monson crush lesnar like the us vs the ussr in the 1980 winter olympics, considering the increasing competitive level in the UFC's heavyweight division, i don't think that his chances are great. moving down to LHW may be a good idea, since that division lacks a solid grappler and his reach/height disadvantage won't be so crippling (unless he fights jon jones, of course)
Quote: Would it be
Lots of MMA fighters are on vegan diets when they train for upcoming fights. Some of them are straight up vegans, like Jake Shields who is fighting GSP next weekend (an event I am lucky enough to go to). Mac Danzig is also vegan.
While I'd love to see Monson fight at LHW in the UFC, I don't think he would ever be able to become a real contender for the belt. And if we miraculously managed to get a title shot, Bones would pick him apart (like he's done with everyone).
Khawaga wrote: Quote: Would
Khawaga
By this do you mean that they choose to be vegan just in the run up to a fight?
Yup. Then they go back to
Yup. Then they go back to whatever other diet they had before. The fighters that do this argue that weight cutting is easier and that they will heal from any damage from the fight much quicker. Don't know if that the case physiologically or if it's just a psychological "boost".
Khawaga wrote: Yup. Then they
Khawaga
Thats interesting. I would have thought it would be harder for them to get the protein they need to heal from a vegan diet. Although I guess they are pros as far as nutrition goes.
To Partybucket re: over 40s-
To Partybucket re: over 40s- For sure there are too many messes.
gypsy wrote: Thats
gypsy
I was still vegan when I first fought and managed to gain a stone just by lifting and taking soya/rice/hemp protein. Protein wasn't necessarily the problem, sheer calories was - I was competing at 65kg and was fairly skinny - I'm 80kg now 3yrs later as a veggie just.
I'm sure the people, including former libcom posters, over at veganfitness.net could tell you more ;)
Choccy wrote: gypsy
Choccy
Cheers for the website I ain't planning on turning vegan choccy. But might pass the website on to a vegan pal of mine. Do you have like 10% body fat or something? Cos I didn't realise you were so heavy from just looking at you.
I'm probably about 15% these
I'm probably about 15% these days, bit chubbier than I used to be ;)
Monson is signed to fight in
Monson is signed to fight in the next Strikeforce, June 18, against Daniel Cormier after winning the Strength & Honour championship a month ago.