A number of Russian news outlets including News-4-U.ru reported earlier this month that former UFC title challenger Jeff Monson, 45, would be fighting UFC 6 tournament champion OlegTaktarov, 48, on April 16, at Battle on Sura 5, in Penza, Russia.
Penza is a city of 500,000, about 400 miles from Moscow. Taktarov is a native Russian; Monson was recently granted citizenship.
However, Monson told Karim Zidan? for BE that the contest would be scripted.
“This is fun. This is like a WWE thing,” said Monson. “We’re going to get there in a couple of days early and script it; get the audience involved. It is nothing more than that.
“I don’t even want to say that it is a worked fight because that implies that we are fooling people into thinking it is real. I’ve never done a worked fight. This one is for fun; for entertainment value.”
‘The Russian Bear’ has not fought since 2008, when he defeated a notably diminished Mark Kerr. He has become a successful actor, with roles in National Treasure, Bad Boys 2, Predators, Air Force One, and 15 Minutes, among many others. Since 2012 he has headed the Federation of Mixed Martial Arts of Russia.
Moson has never stopped fighting, and most recently earned a win over Ukrainian Anton Lotkova at Fight Stars 2 on March 19 in Balakovo, Russia. Monson won via his trademark Monson Choke.
Monson said he will continue to fight, could do another ‘pardoy’ contest, and is involved with other projects including a half hour series on Russia Today (RT), the Russian government-funded 24/7 English-language news channel which brings the Russian view on global news.
Monson also requested Gennady Zyuganov, First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, that he be allowed to join the Communist Party of the Russian Federation. Monson, who holds a masters degree, is known for his anarchist views and affiliations
“I am an anarchist,” he explained in 2006. “Someone who would like to do away with all class hierarchy in society and the institutions that promote this inequality.”
