‘Legit’ – Jon Jones reacts as footage catches him being taken down by UFC champion Khamzat Chimaev

Jon Jones and Khamzat Chimaev have sparked up an unlikely friendship.

It appears the former UFC heavyweight champion has built a bond with the king of the middleweight division after spending time in his native Chechnya.

@HappyPunch on X

Jones was invited to the sovereign state by the head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, to celebrate his son’s 18th birthday as he prepares to sign a ‘major ambassador’ deal in Russia.

The American said he got to ‘shoot exotic weapons’, including an RPG, and admitted that he ‘ate like a king’ on the trip.

A video has since emerged of Jones linking up with UFC middleweight champion Chimaev, who was born in the Chechen Republic but fights out of the United Arab Emirates.

The pair shared a playful dust-up, and fans quickly noted that Chimaev, known for his dominance on the ground, managed to shift heavyweight Jones to the ground.

Jon Jones: Khamzat Chimaev is in tremendous shape

“Khamzat is a real n**** fosho,” Jones wrote on X as footage of his meeting with Chimaev circulated online.

One fan then questioned if the takedown from Chimaev was real.

“Yeah, that takedown was legit,” Jones said.

“[Chimaev] is in tremendous shape, and there was only so much I could do on that concrete.

“What a great host, I’ll never forget my time in Chechnya.”

He later added: “We were able to have a great dinner together, he seemed so humble, focused, and driven.

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“At the end of the dinner, he told me he needed to drive four hours back to the mountains to train.”

Replying to another fan, Jones added: “I think Ian [Machado Garry] may be in trouble.”

What happened between Chimaev and Ian Machado Garry?

Jones was referencing a backstage altercation between Chimaev and Machado Garry from UFC Qatar this past weekend.

Chimaev was there to support his friend Arman Tsarukyan, who submitted Dan Hooker in the main event.

Garry, meanwhile, acted as the co-main event and outpointed former UFC champion Belal Muhammad to move one step closer to a title shot.

After the Irishman overcame Muhammad, he bumped into Chimaev and Tsarukyan backstage.

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A friendly encounter then quickly turned heated as Chimaev shoved Garry out of the way.

“Dude, that’s just childish, you’re meant to be a champion in the sport,” Garry said to Chimaev.

He later posted the altercation on Instagram with the caption: “A champion or a child? So unnecessary.”

Chimaev then called Garry a ‘white boy’ in a deleted post on X to which the latter responded: “I’m pretty sure we’re both white.”

Is Jones returning to the UFC?

Jones was in Chechnya with Chimaev amid rumours of his return to Dana White‘s promotion at UFC White House.

Jones has declared his desire to fight UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira at the iconic event.

He even said on Tuesday that he ‘absolutely’ doesn’t mind not being the main event for the card after UFC CEO White said he doesn’t trust Jones to headline.

That spot is likely to go to Conor McGregor, who wants to return to UFC White House also.