Jeff Monson Moves to Yekaterinburg to Help Animals
American and Russian MMA fighter Jeff Monson was spotted near a supermarket in Yekaterinburg with a bag of groceries. It turned out he plans to permanently move to the Ural capital for an animal rescue project.
Jul 29, 2026 0
Jeff Monson will assist Kirill Potapov at an animal rescue and rehabilitation center.
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Residents of Yekaterinburg spotted famous athlete Jeff Monson near a grocery store. He was leisurely walking with his wife, holding a bag of purchases. The video quickly spread on social media, raising questions about the purpose of his visit.
Russian Foreign Ministry representative in the Urals Alexander Kharlov supports the project.
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As it turned out, Monson intends to permanently move to Yekaterinburg. The reason is a joint project with founder of an animal rehabilitation center Kirill Potapov. The athlete arrived in the city from Ufa on July 18, and plans to settle here by the end of August to help develop the center.
Jeff Monson was seen in Yekaterinburg carrying groceries with his wife.
«I see how Kirill is running this wonderful project — a center that helps animals. This is what I want to do. All my life I have been helping people and caring for them. Now we have started developing a project in Yekaterinburg: various animals come to us — including from zoos and circuses. We care for them. This project could not exist without the help of Kirill and other people,» shared Jeff Monson.
Jeff Monson and Kirill Potapov walk with bear cubs from the rehabilitation center.
For now, the athlete lives in Ufa, where he continues to develop social and sports initiatives. He opened free schools for children in jiu-jitsu and grappling, and also conducts English language classes.
Monson had already visited the Sverdlovsk region in April — then he played with bear cubs living with a Yekaterinburg resident. Kirill Potapov, in turn, regularly publishes videos of himself feeding a pack of wolves by hand.
A major interview with Monson is expected soon, where he will talk about the move, new projects, his friendship with Potapov, and what he misses about America.
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