Jeff Monson, known as „The Snowman“ is a renowned mixed martial artist and one of the most respected figures in the world of professional fighting.
Born on January 18, 1971, Monson hails from Olympia, Washington, and has made a significant impact in the world of combat sports. With a career spanning several decades, Monson has competed in various organizations, including the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Pride FC, and numerous other promotions. He is celebrated not only for his impressive fighting skills but also for his outspoken political activism and commitment to various social causes. Throughout his career, Jeff Monson has left an indelible mark on the sport of mixed martial arts, earning a reputation as a true fighter both inside and outside the cage.
Jeff Monson’s time in Russia marked a notable chapter in his life and career. In the mid-2000s, Monson developed a strong connection with Russia, which ultimately led to him becoming a Russian citizen. He began competing in Russian MMA promotions and quickly gained popularity among Russian fight fans.
At some point, I came across a photo of Jeff Monson and a story about him as the „Bone Crusher“. Inspired by the story and the photo, the scrap page (I think it was the Stern) ended up in my collection of templates. Among animal photos, structures, images of people and other objects, it lay there waiting for a first visual realization.
The first version was an A4 drawing, where I was already moving in the direction of robots or androids – but the construction was missing. Only later „Ultimate Fighter“ was created in its robot-like appearance.
The final work was constructed, drawn with fineliner and colored with ink.
It was only late after the finalization that I came across his controversial attitude towards Russia. On social media, he chooses to side with Russia in the Ukraine war.
It may come as no surprise that Monson has publicly expressed his support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine: „I have friends in Europe who believe that Russia is the bad guy or the aggressor trying to attack Ukraine, take over Ukraine, occupy Ukraine, which is absolute nonsense,“ he was quoted as saying, among other things.
My fascination was not with Jeff Monson the person. His portrayal simply inspired me to create a character design.
