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Jon Jones Takedown by Khamzat Chimaev in Grozny

Published 1 December 2025

Jon Jones, widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial arts fighters of all time, engaged in a spontaneous grappling exchange with UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev on the streets of Grozny, Chechnya, earlier this week. The lighthearted encounter, captured on video and shared widely on social media, showed Chimaev executing a takedown on the former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion, prompting Jones to laugh and playfully run away while asking onlookers not to record.

The interaction occurred during Jones' recent visit to Russia, where he has purchased property in the region. The two fighters, both dressed for the cold weather, crossed paths while out with friends and posed for photos with fans before deciding to test their skills in a brief, friendly roll. Amateur photographer Rizvan Edilsultanov captured the moment, which quickly went viral among MMA enthusiasts. In the footage, Chimaev, known for his wrestling prowess, smoothly lifted and grounded Jones on the concrete, though the session remained playful and did not escalate.

Jones later addressed the clip on his social media account, confirming the takedown's legitimacy. "Yeah, that takedown was...

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