Jeff Monson: 'I'm Destined to Beat Fedor'

Fedor Emelianenko is the best fighter in mixed martial arts, a fighter so dominant that he looks almost unbeatable. But one person thinks he can beat him: Jeff Monson.

Yes, Monson -- who is generally considered somewhere between the 10th and 20th best heavyweight in the world -- says he's just the man to end Fedor's reign atop the heavyweight division in MMA.

"The only guy I want to fight -- like, I have to -- is Fedor right now," Monson said on HDNet's Inside MMA. "He's the guy I'm destined to fight. I want to be the guy to beat him."

Fedor's next fight is scheduled for August 1 against Josh Barnett at Affliction Trilogy, and Monson said he considers Barnett a good friend and hopes he does well against Fedor.

"He's got a good game, if he beats him great," Monson said. "If not, hopefully I'm next to have a shot at him."

Monson said he expects to fight one more time in Japan soon, and that he's also had talks with Affliction, Strikeforce and the UFC about fighting in the United States. But it sounds like the one thing motivating Monson right now is the opportunity to take on the best.

"I think I'm destined to beat Fedor," Monson said. "I really believe that. I think I have the game to beat him. I'd definitely love to see that match-up and I'd definitely love to be carried off afterward after I submit him. ... My goal is to be the best in the world, even if it's for one fight. I think to accomplish that, you've got to win the UFC championship, or -- probably more importantly to me -- beat Fedor in a fight. That would be the crowning jewel in my career."

Of course, there's the little matter of Monson facing criminal charges for defacing the Washington State Capitol, but Monson said that will just be a speed bump for his career. Monson said he expects to pay "a big fine" and do some community service, but not go to jail. So he'll be available should Fedor come calling.