Unbeatable for ten years until being finalized by Fabricio Werdum with an armlock inside the triangle, Fedor Emelianenko saw himself defeated in three fights in a row (Antonio Pezão, Dan Henderson) and people said the Russian would retire.

This Sunday, the once Emperor of MMA got back to action against Jeff Monson at Global M-1. With the crowd on his side, Fedor beat Monson during the three rounds, always with good combinations of strikes, overthrowing the American with an uppercut in the second round. With the victory, the Pride legend got his 32^nd victory of his career.

Global M-1

Olympic Stadium, Moscow, Russia

November 20, 2011

Fedor Emilianenko defeated Jeff Monson by unanimous decision

Daniel Weichel defeated Jose Figueroa by KO during R1

Alexander Yakovlev defeated Juan Manuel Suarez by TKO during R2

Yuri Ivlev defeated Jerome Buisson by TKO during R1

Mairbek Taisumov defeated Joshua Thorpe by KO during R2

Mikhail Malyutin defeated Seydina Seck by KO during R1

Albert Duraev finalized Xavier Foupa-Pokam with a triangle choke during R2

Salim Davidov defeated Sergey Kornev by unanimous decision

In preparing for the showdown, the Russian has been training with his brother Alexander and former Strikeforce champ Gegard Mousasi. In the following video, Fedor intensifies his escapes from bottom position so he’ll be ready for black belt Monson’s pressure from side-control.

Who do you think takes the fight?

School owner Frank Burczynski took the opportunity to record the first day of training.

And don’t forget that Jeff Monson will be at Imag on November 27th.

For more info, go to jkdberlin.de

Put your two cents’ worth in the comments section below: who wins this showdown?

GMA member Frank Burczynski will be hosting a very special seminar soon.

The leader of IMAG e V Berlin will welcome none other than UFC veteran and ADCC champion Jeff Monson.

The “Snowman” will be at the academy to teach grappling and MMA techniques on November 27 from 11:00AM to 3:00PM.

The four-hour seminar costs only 40 Euros.

To register and for further info, email Frank at frank@jkdberlin.de.

Jiu-Jitsu black belt and MMA fighter Jeff Monson (42w, 12l) announced what is in the works for his next outing via Twitter. Monson (pictured) said he’s confirmed to face Fedor Emelianenko (31w, 4l) on November 12 at M-1 in Russia.

According to MMAJunkie, however, the bout agreement between the ex-UFC fighter and ex-Strikeforce fighter haven’t been signed yet. The supposed date of the event, November 12, is the same as the inaugural UFC broadcast on Fox, direct from Anaheim, California.

Davi sinks armbar on Monson. Photo: personal archive.

Davi Ramos saw action at last weekend’s Grapplers Quest in Las Vegas. Although he didn’t win the absolute, Davi was one of the big standouts, winning his weight group and coming up with some big finishes over some big names.

“I ended up losing the absolute in a controversial match. Unfortunately the outcome wasn’t what I had hoped for. But in making it to the final I tapped out Jeff Monson in the quarterfinal and in the semifinal caught João Assis with a footlock in just 40 seconds,” said the joyous black belt, who commented on the mistake in the open weight final.

“I was doing good in the competition and had it in my head that I’d get the finish in all seven of my matches. I managed to get it in six of them! My opponent in the final was clever and didn’t want to fight, went through with his strategy and I ended up losing. I don’t like leaving it to a judge to decide, so I went after him and ended up dropping an advantage point. I want to thank André Galvão for the backing he’s provided me in San Diego; I’m learning more and more every day. I always liked the way he fights and I identify with him a lot because he always goes for the tapout.”

Ramos’s upcoming challenges remain in No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu.

“I’ll stick around here helping him train for the ADCC, and I’ll make the most of the training to compete at the No-Gi Worlds. I won the No-Gi Brazilian Nationals last year and this year closed out the No-Gi World Pro with Rodrigo Caporal, beating guys like Michael Maia, Augusto Mendes and JT Torres. Now I want the No-Gi Pan and Worlds,” said the mat wizard, who trains with the Atos gang but is a Master Casquinha student, in finishing.

But there were other highlights of the evening, like Gesias Cavalcante and Jeff Monson, as well as the promotion’s comely ring girls.

Check out the photos by Esther Lin:

Tiko won via first-round rear naked choke

Our GMA Anderson Pereira sent in news from Switzerland, where last weekend a landmark installment of the MMA Strength and Honor event took place.

“My student Claudemir “Tiko” de Souza, a Brazilian brown belt, fought well here in Geneva this Saturday, beating France’s Mourad Benseguir with a rear naked choke in the first round,” says the teacher.

In the evening’s main event, Jeff Monson overcame tough Croatian judoka Maro Perak via judges’ decision. Another standout was Tunisia’s Karim Ait Khalifa, a submission specialist from team Alliance. He won by kimura in the first round. Check out the results:

Following his kimura win, The Tunisian celebrated by displaying his academy's gi. Photos: Roland Peter Shaer.

Strength and Honor 4
Geneva, Switzerland
April 30, 2011

Karla Benitez Sanja Sucevic won by doctor’s intervention in R1
Sasa Mitrovic defeated Cesar Augusto by doctor’s intervention in R1
Claudemir Souza subbed Murad Benseghir via rear naked choke at 3:41 min of R1
Karim Ait Khalifa subbed Alen Dolicanin via kimura at 1:19 min of R1
Nelson Carvalho finalizou Paddy Doherty na guilhotina aos 37s do 1R
Ivan Mussardo and Hristomir Hristov fought to a draw
Olavo Belo defeated Greg Loughran via kimura at 2:25 min of R2
Olivier Pastor defeated Leandro Gontijo via unanimous decision
Mats Nilsson subbed Nikos Sokol via triangle at 1:41s of R1
Michelle Verginelli and Norman Paraisy fought to a drawFrancis Kelly subbed Anundson Carmont via
armbar at 2:06 min of R1
Jeff Monson defeated Maro Perak via unanimous decision after R3

Shamil in action / Photo: publicity

Even after winning the biggest MMA event in the Middle East, the ADFC, heavyweight Shamil Abdurahimov (12w, 1l) doesn’t see himself as a potential successor to compatriot Fedor Emelianenko.

In an interview with GRACIEMAG.com Shamil comments on his conquest from March 11 and tells of when he became certain he would win the ADFC GP, where he went down the line beating Jeff Monson, Rameau Sokoudjou and Marcão Oliveira, the tournament’s other finalist. The only blemish on Shamil’s career is his loss to Brazil’s Thiago “Big Monster” Santos.

What was your start in MMA like?

As is the custom in Dagestan, where I’m from, all kids start doing some sport during childhood. And there freestyle wrestling is very developed, so most kids start in that sport. Gradually I started getting serious about it, doing one competition after the other, and naturally I moved into MMA (in 2008).

What did you differently in training for the GP?

At the outset I trained normally, but after beating Jeff Monson I realized my preparations wouldn’t be enough, since I had to be a cut above my competitors. Then I faced Sokoudjou. To me he would be the worst opponent for me, but everything went along normally, and I didn’t doubt I could win it for a second. That’s when I realized the million dirhams would be mine. Even more so when the Brazilian (Marcão) started smack talking, provoking me in the lead-up to our fight. Those who talk a lot don’t get anything done. (Marcão joked that he would let the Russian hold his belt for a few seconds after the fight.)

But be that as it may, I respect all the opponents I faced in the GP. Each of them was a necessary obstacle, and they are worthy fighters, because they’ve had many other fights in their lives. To me, I don’t see opponents as being strong, but as being worthy.

Do you consider yourself to be a natural successor to Fedor Emelianenko, another Russian who dominated the field of competition he was in for a long time?

“Feodor” is the worthiest of sportsmen, and all worthy sportsmen in life see their rise and fall. And we will all one day be overcome and substituted. I don’t consider myself to be a successor to the style and technique of Fedor, but I too have my Russian fans, and that to me is enough.

Daniel Gracie, in photo by Susumu Nagao.

Israel Fighting Championship (IFC), an event promoted by Renzo Gracie black belt Haim Gozali, shook up Tel Aviv this Tuesday.

A number of Jiu-Jitsu aces saw action and used the gentle art to overcome their opponents. Among them, Daniel Gracie submitted Martin Wojcik with a first-round rear-naked choke to notch his fifth win in eight MMA fights (2l-1d).

Rilion Gracie black belt Alexandro Ceconi put on a show of his own. He captured his second MMA win with a triangle on Vitaly Shemetov, in just 4:48 min. Now Thiago Minu landed an armbar on Ariel Abergel in just 35 seconds.

Another ground-fighting specialist, Jeff Monson was another who finished his fight in the first round, against Sergey Shemetov. Of the other big names in action, Frank Trigg and Rameau Sokoudjou won too, but via knockout and decision, respectively.

Former UFC Hermes França, yet another black belt in action, ended up dropping a unanimous decision to Moshe Kaitz.

Check out the complete results:

IFC – Genesis
Tel Aviv, Israel
Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Jeff Monson submitted Sergey Shemetov at 4:09 min of R1

Frank Trigg defeated Roy Neeman via TKO at 2:36 min of R1

Moshe Kaitz defeated Hermes França via unanimous decision

Rameau Sokoudjou defeated Valdas Pocevicius via unanimous decision

Daniel Gracie submitted Martin Wojcik via rear-naked choke at 2:27 min of R1

Jeremy Knafo defeated Shonie Carter via unanimous decision

Thiago Meller submitted Ariel Abergel via armbar at 0.35 min of R1

Alexandro Ceconi submitted Vitaly Shemetov via triangle at 4:48min of R1

Ido Pariente submitted Joshua Hewlett via armbar at 2:54 min of R1

Vitali Krbrsky defeated Serob Minasyan via unanimous decision

Roy Peretz submitted Fabrice Riconneau via triangle at 3 minutes of R1

Israel will be overrun by MMA this Tuesday, with the Israel Fighting Championship (IFC) in Tel Aviv, an event put together by a Renzo Gracie student and seasoned ADCC competitor, Haim Gozali.

Speaking of Renzo, the black belt is already in Tel Aviv to attend the show boasting a stellar roster featuring stars like Jeff Monson, Daniel Gracie, Hermes França, Alexandro Ceconi, Charles “Krazy Horse”, Ido Pariente, Shonie Carter, Rameau Sokodjou, Frank Trigg, and Ricco Rodriguez.

Check out the complete card:

IFC – Genesis
Tel Aviv, Israel
Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Sergey Shemetov vs. Jeff Monson

Roy Neeman vs. Frank Trigg

Daniel Tabera vs. Ricco Rodriguez

Moshe Kaitz vs. Hermes França

Valdas Pocevicius vs. Rameau Sokoudjou

Ariel Abergel vs. Charles Bennett

Martin Wojcik vs. Daniel Gracie

Jeremy Knafo vs. Shonie Carter

Thiago Meller vs. Fabrice Riconneau

Vitaly Shemetov vs. Alexandro Ceconi

Joshua Hewlett vs. Ido Pariente

Akop Stepanyan vs. Marc Berger

Serob Minasyan vs. Vitali Krbrsky

João Assis. Photo: publicity

Last Saturday, October 30, two big-name black belts went at it at Grapplers Quest, in Ontario, Canada. João Assis faced Saulo Ribeiro in a featured match at the event.

The CheckMat representative had beaten Xande Ribeiro at a previous Grapplers Quest event in July. This time, Assis managed to beat Xande’s older brother in a no-gi dispute.

The result caps off an excellent season for the black belt who this year has racked up a number of big wins, like his submission of Jeff Monson at the UFC Fan Expo.

Check out the video with some snippets from the match between Assis and Saulo:

Cyborg with another gold medal. Photo: Personal archive.

Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu carries on in his rampant run of IBJJF events. Following his conquest of his weight and the open weight groups at the Honolulu and Miami Opens, the black belt now gets ready for the No-Gi Worlds. Check out the chat the submission stalwart had with GRACIEMAG.com:

What’s your assessment of the Miami Open?

The Miami Open was great and well-organized as always. Thank God, I’m really happy with the work the team’s been doing. Pablo Popovitch and I set up Avengers BJJ and now we’re just reaping the rewards. We had more then fifty students signed up and took second in the overall team dispute – just two points behind Gracie Elite –, plus we won nearly all the absolutes. Just as we closed out all the absolutes at the last IBJJF events (No-Gi Pan and Honolulu Open), we’ll do the same again now.

How about your performance?

I had two matches at weight and two in the absolute. I won my weight group beating Stephen Hall in the final. I ended up closing out the absolute with my training partner Marcus “Bochecha” Almeida, an awesome kid, a Rodrigo Cavaca student who’s on a roll, clocking out absolutes with us.

Cyborg and Bochecha on absolute podium with Eduardo Milioli ande Rafael Formiga

How’s your preparation for the No-Gi Worlds going?

Training for the Worlds couldn’t be going better. That’s The Avengers’ next mission, to conquer the world both at weight and open weight! A good group is going into the event: me, Pablo (Popovitch), Jeff Monson, Cavaca, Bochecha, Wagner Rocha, Jake Mackenzie, Thiago Abreu, James Brasco, João Macaio, Marcel Goulart, Rafael Chaves, Guedes… Training is out of the world, everyone in top shape and anxious step step onto the match areas in Long Beach.

Will you compete at both weight and open weight again?

As always, I’1l be in both division. I love competing in the absolute, and this year, for sure we’ve got what it takes to dominate in California!

Any news for next season?

I’m really happy with how things have gone in Jiu-Jitsu this year, with the various big conquests. But I already knew it was just preparation for next year. I’ll compete in everything out there. I intend to compete at both Worlds’ (gi and no-gi), as well as the ADCC and World Pro for the first time. Bring on 2011!

Do as Cyborg does and secure your spot at the No-Gi Worlds. Sign-ups end Saturday, so get in on the action by clicking here.

Aoki in action. Photo: FEG / Publicity.

The big MMA event of the weekend was UFC 121, but some other big names saw action elsewhere in the world.

This Sunday in Japan, in celebration of the 50th installment of the Deep promotion, Dream FC champion Shinya Aoki notched his sixteenth MMA submission win. The Japanese idol and Jiu-Jitsu black belt needed exactly one minute to put away his opponent, Yokthai Sithoar.

In Canada, the W-1 MMA 6 had Murilo Ninja, brother of UFC champion Maurício Shogun, in action. The fight was on a Saturday, and Ninja ended up losing to Roy Boughton via unanimous decision.

At the same event, former Strikeforce heavyweight challenger Brett Rogers took a unanimous-decision win over Ruben Villareal.

Another to have a winning return this Saturday was former UFC fighter Jeff Monson, who submitted Travis Fulton at Fight Time 2, in the U.S.