Jon Jones has gone viral after he was taken down during a street grappling session in Chechnya. The former heavyweight king confirmed the takedown was real, and the clip has already sparked talk of a possible future fight.
Jon Jones taken down in public grapple
The footage was filmed during Jones’ latest trip to Russia, where he recently bought property and visited Grozny for the 18th birthday celebrations of Ramzan Kadyrov’s son.
Jon Jones never ceases to amaze me pic.twitter.com/mmO8b8LCU6
— 𝙈𝙈𝘼 𝙈𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙪𝙨 (@mmamarcuss) November 25, 2025
Jones spent the week touring the region, posing for photos, firing an RPG, and sharing meals with local officials. That quiet schedule ended when he crossed paths with Khamzat Chimaev.
The pair met up outdoors in cold weather gear and, after a round of photos, decided to test each other with a quick grapple on the pavement.
Khamzat Chimaev grappling with Jon Jones 👀
(via IG / rizvan82) pic.twitter.com/qYeP7BJQQo
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) November 25, 2025
Chimaev shot in for the legs during the scramble and managed to bring Jones to the ground. The moment was filmed by amateur photographer Rizvan Edilsultanov, who posted the footage on social media moments later.
Jones reacted by shouting “no” as he ran from the lighthearted exchange and asked the crowd to stop recording.
Jon Jones praises Khamzat Chimaev
Jones cleared that up within hours. “Yeah, that takedown was legit,” he wrote on X. “He is in tremendous shape, and there was only so much I could do on that concrete.”
Jones also praised Chimaev after their dinner together. He called him humble, focused, and in top condition, and thanked his hosts for what he described as outstanding hospitality during the trip.
Jones open to UFC fight
According to Edilsultanov, Jones did not love the way the exchange played out. He claimed that when someone at the scene offered money for an official fight, Jones agreed on the spot.
The light heavyweight legend has not confirmed those comments, but he is preparing for a comeback and a new ambassador role in Russia.
Chimaev, meanwhile, has momentum of his own after beating Dricus Du Plessis to win the UFC middleweight title.
