STWF Sports | Nov. 25, 2025 – Jon Jones has spent years forging a legacy as one of the greatest mixed martial artists ever to enter the Octagon, but his latest storyline isn’t about title defenses or comeback chatter. Instead, it’s about an unlikely new friendship — one formed thousands of miles from home, deep in the Chechen Republic, with UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev.

Jones, invited by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov to celebrate his son’s 18th birthday, spent several days in the region as he continues to explore what he described as a “major ambassador” deal in Russia. The former UFC heavyweight champion shared details of the trip online, highlighting everything from firing exotic weapons — including an RPG — to what he called “eating like a king.”

But the moment that sent the MMA world buzzing came when Jones linked up with Chimaev, who was born in Chechnya and now competes out of the United Arab Emirates. A playful grappling exchange between the two champions surfaced on social media, and fans immediately noticed that Chimaev appeared to legitimately take down the larger and heavier Jones.

Jones didn’t hide from the moment.
“Yeah, that takedown was legit,” he wrote on X, confirming what many fans suspected. “[Chimaev] is in tremendous shape, and there was only so much I could do on that concrete.”

Despite the playful roughhousing, the meeting between the two fighters appeared to be rooted in mutual respect. Jones described the middleweight champion as “humble, focused, and driven,” noting that after their dinner together, Chimaev told him he planned to drive four hours back into the mountains to train — a detail that impressed the former pound-for-pound king.

The camaraderie between them, however, arrived at an interesting time, as Chimaev made headlines the same week for a heated backstage altercation with rising welterweight contender Ian Machado Garry during UFC Qatar. Garry, who defeated former champion Belal Muhammad in the co-main event, encountered Chimaev and friend Arman Tsarukyan backstage after the fights. What began as a friendly interaction quickly escalated when Chimaev shoved Garry out of the way.

“Dude, that’s just childish,” Garry told him. “You’re meant to be a champion in the sport.”

Garry later posted footage of the encounter to Instagram with the caption: “A champion or a child? So unnecessary.” Chimaev fired back briefly on X, calling Garry a “white boy” before deleting the post. Garry’s response — “I’m pretty sure we’re both white” — added another layer to what has become one of the sport’s oddest budding rivalries.

Jones seemed amused by the situation, even posting, “I think Ian may be in trouble,” after seeing Chimaev’s exchange with the Irish contender.

As for Jones himself, his presence in Chechnya has reignited speculation about his long-awaited UFC return. The 36-year-old has repeatedly expressed interest in fighting UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira — and with Dana White pushing ahead toward the highly anticipated UFC White House card, the timing appears to line up.

Still, White openly said he does not trust Jones enough to headline the Washington, D.C. mega-event. Jones didn’t dispute that, saying he “absolutely” doesn’t mind not being the main event — a slot many expect to be filled by Conor McGregor if he finalizes his own comeback.

Whether Jones steps into the Octagon sooner or later remains unclear, but one thing is certain: his unexpected bond with Chimaev brought the MMA world to a halt. For two fighters known for their ferocious personas, the viral footage showcased something different — mutual respect, competitive fire, and the kind of iron-sharpening-iron moment that fans will be talking about for a long time.

Jon Jones linked up with UFC champ Khamzat Chimaev in Chechnya — and things got real fast. 😳🔥

A viral video shows Chimaev legit taking down the former heavyweight king during a playful exchange. Jones confirmed it himself, praising Chimaev’s strength and conditioning:
“Yeah, that takedown was legit… I’ll never forget my time in Chechnya.”

The two shared dinner, trained, and sparked an unexpected friendship — even as Chimaev made headlines for shoving Ian Garry backstage at UFC Qatar.

Jones fired a warning shot:
“I think Ian Garry may be in trouble.”

With rumors swirling about Jones returning at UFC White House and Chimaev chasing another big fight, the MMA world is buzzing.

Two of the sport’s wildest forces crossing paths?
Yeah… this story’s just getting started. 👀💥