Jon Jones is touched by kind words from a rising star. Khamzat Chimaev, set to fight for the middleweight title at UFC 319 on August 16 2025, called Jones the scariest fighter in MMA history during a 2022 interview. Jones responded by praising Chimaev’s humility in an interview with Red Corner MMA.
UFC 319 takes place at United Center in Chicago. Chimaev challenges middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis in the main event, broadcast on ESPN Plus pay-per-view. Chimaev is undefeated at 14-0, while Du Plessis holds a 23-2 record. Jones, a former heavyweight champion, isn’t on the card but remains relevant after rejoining the UFC’s anti-doping program, signaling a potential comeback.
Chimaev’s Respect for Jones
In a 2022 interview on The Triple C & Schmo Show, Chimaev spoke highly of Jones.
He said, “Jon Jones, of course, nobody is like him. He beats the monsters. I did all my training with Alexander Gustafsson; I know how good he is. And if Jon Jones could stop that guy, it’s scary.”
He continued, “Daniel Cormier, he has pressure, good wrestling and boxing, and he has a mentality of just pressure the fighters. And Jones stopped that guy as well. If he stays in the game, he has to be the pound-for-pound number one.”
Chimaev’s praise comes from training with Gustafsson, whom Jones defeated twice. He respects Jones’ ability to dominate top fighters like Cormier, a former two-division champion.
Jones’ Heartfelt Response
Jones, speaking to Red Corner MMA, appreciated the gesture.
“That’s a huge compliment coming from Khamzat, I’m a big fan of Khamzat,” he said. “I don’t think he has any reason to toot my horn or even be humble, he doesn’t have to be. I mean, heavyweights fear him, and the fact that he has so much respect for me really means a lot. It says a lot about his character, his humility, to compliment someone in such a huge way. So I’m very grateful and honored.”
Jon Jones reacts to Khamzat @KChimaev calling him the scariest MMA fighter. “It tells me a lot about his character, his humility, to be able to compliment someone in such a huge way. So I’m very grateful and honoured,” @JonnyBones told Red Corner MMA. pic.twitter.com/f6rs0LBfBh
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) August 10, 2025
At 38, Jones values Chimaev’s words, especially given the younger fighter’s fearsome reputation across weight classes.
Born July 19, 1987, in Rochester, New York, Jon Jones joined the UFC in 2008 at age 21. He became the youngest UFC champion ever in 2011, defeating Mauricio “Shogun” Rua for the light heavyweight title at UFC 128. He defended it 11 times across two reigns, beating elite fighters like Rashad Evans, Lyoto Machida, Alexander Gustafsson (twice), Daniel Cormier (twice), Vitor Belfort, and Chael Sonnen. In 2023, he won the heavyweight title by submitting Ciryl Gane in the first round at UFC 285. His last fight was a third-round knockout of Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 on November 16 2024. His record is 28-1 with one no-contest.
Jones’ career faced setbacks. In 2012, he was charged with DUI after crashing his Bentley in New York. In 2015, a hit-and-run in Albuquerque involving a pregnant woman led to his title being stripped and 18 months’ probation. He tested positive for clomiphene and letrozole in 2016, earning a one-year suspension. A 2017 turinabol positive after beating Cormier resulted in a 15-month ban and his title being vacated again. In 2020, he faced DWI and negligent firearm use charges. A 2021 domestic violence arrest in Las Vegas followed. In March 2024, he allegedly threatened a drug-testing agent, though no charges were filed.
On February 21, 2025, Jones was involved in another hit-and-run in Albuquerque. A woman, heavily intoxicated, claimed Jones drove and fled after a crash. She said they used alcohol and psilocybin mushrooms at his home. Jones faces two misdemeanor charges: leaving the scene of an accident (filed June 16 2025 by officer Kevin Gonzales) and the same charge plus using a telephone to threaten (filed June 30 2025 by officer Andrew Romero). Jones pleaded not guilty, with a bench trial set for August 14 2025 before Judge Jill Martinez and a bond arraignment on September 4 2025. His attorney, Christopher Dodd, called the charges “unwarranted,” claiming Jones wasn’t driving, and filed to dismiss the duplicate charge. Jones addressed the case on June 24 2025, saying media got it wrong.
Khamzat Chimaev, born May 1, 1994, in Chechnya and raised in Sweden, debuted in the UFC in July 2020. He set a record with two wins in 10 days on Fight Island, submitting John Phillips and Rhys McKee. Nicknamed “Borz” (wolf), his aggressive wrestling and striking made him a star.
He beat Gilbert Burns by decision in 2022 at welterweight, then moved to middleweight, choking out Kevin Holland later that year. In 2023, he outpointed Kamaru Usman. His latest win was a first-round submission of Robert Whittaker at UFC 308 on October 26 2024, earning his title shot against Du Plessis.
Chimaev’s stamina drew criticism after fading against Burns and Usman. Health issues from overtraining limited him to five fights since 2020. He’s now training with coach Sam Calavitta to boost endurance.
