Khamzat Chimaev clarified that his widely shared street grappling session with Jon Jones was just a playful interaction between the two fighters. Despite buzz about the middleweight champion “winning” the informal bout and suggestions of a “rematch” from those present, Chimaev emphasized that it was all in good fun and conducted with mutual respect.
Jones is currently preparing for a fight scheduled for next summer’s UFC White House event, while Chimaev is healing from an injury and aims to compete again shortly before that. Although their publicized encounter wasn’t a serious contest, a genuine conflict did occur between the champion and Ian Machado-Galley at UFC Qatar.
Two weeks ago, a video emerged showing Jones and Chimaev grappling in a parking lot, reminiscent of Jones’ previous informal fights with other UFC fighters. What caught attention was that Chimaev weighed in at 185 pounds during the bout and appeared to out-grapple Jones, who last fought at over 237 pounds. The clip went viral, but Chimaev insists it wasn’t a serious wrestling match.
Chimaev told ESPN MMA, “People are posting videos of this wrestling. I always respect my guests. It wasn’t me trying to beat him, he started first. Then it turned into wrestling and it got interesting. But it wasn’t real wrestling. People say I beat him, but he enjoyed it. He was out there shooting moves and having a good time.”
Amateur photographer Rizvan Edilsultanov, present during the encounter, claimed that Chimaev had the upper hand. Jones humorously fled the scene shouting “no” repeatedly and asked others not to record the event. A rough translation of his social media post revealed that while Chimaev had a slight edge, Jones refused to accept “defeat” and reacted loudly. The situation escalated with Alfredo Auditore stepping in and agreeing to fight, leading to speculation about a potential showdown.
Fan Take: This light-hearted grappling session between two elite fighters highlights the camaraderie and competitive spirit that fans love in MMA. While not serious, such moments fuel excitement and speculation, keeping fans engaged and hopeful for compelling future matchups in the sport.
