Chimaev has the opportunity to win a UFC world championship this weekend at UFC 319. Chimaev and UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis<\/a> headline a stacked card in Chicago.<\/p>\n Despite Chimaev previously saying that he\u2019d beat Jones<\/a> in a potential fight, the two share mutual admiration of their accomplishments in the cage. <\/p>\n Chimaev praised Jones<\/a> in a 2022 interview on The Triple C & Schmo Show<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cJon 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\u2019s scary,\u201d Chimaev said.<\/p>\n \u201c[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.\u201d<\/p>\n Jones responded to Chimaev\u2019s comments during a recent interview with Red Corner MMA<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a huge compliment coming from Khamzat, I\u2019m a big fan of Khamzat,\u201d Jones said.<\/p>\n Jon Jones reacts to Khamzat @KChimaev<\/a> calling him the scariest MMA fighter. \u201cIt tells me a lot about his character, his humility, to be able to compliment someone in such a huge way. So I\u2019m very grateful and honoured,\u201d @JonnyBones<\/a> told Red Corner MMA. pic.twitter.com\/f6rs0LBfBh<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) August 10, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think he has any reason to toot my horn or even be humble, he doesn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I\u2019m very grateful and honored.\u201d<\/p>\n Chimaev enters UFC 319 unbeaten in his MMA career with recent wins over Robert Whittaker, Gilbert Burns, and Kamaru Usman. He\u2019s widely favored to defeat Du Plessis at UFC 319 next weekend.<\/p>\n As for what\u2019s next for Jones, his retirement could be short-lived after he re-entered the UFC\u2019s drug testing pool<\/a>.<\/p>\n Jon Jones targets 2026 MMA return despite Dana White\u2019s UFC White House snub<\/p>\n After U.S. President Donald Trump and UFC CEO Dana White<\/a> confirmed plans for the promotion to host an event at The White House next summer, Jones and Conor McGregor<\/a> threw their names into the conversation to headline the card. But White quickly dismissed having Jones headline the event<\/a> due to the former heavyweight champ\u2019s questionable past outside of the cage.<\/p>\n Despite White\u2019s comments, Jones remains back in training as he prepares for a potential return to the Octagon next July. A matchup between Jones and Tom Aspinall could potentially come to fruition<\/a> if Aspinall is victorious in his upcoming UFC 321 title fight.<\/p>\n In the meantime, the UFC heavyweight division is moving forward in Jones\u2019s absence. In the coming months, we could learn more about whether or not Jones will get his wish to headline at the U.S. capital.<\/p>\n ![\"Khamzat](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-2181229615-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Chris Unger\/Zuffa LLCJon Jones on Khamzat Chimaev: \u2018Heavyweights fear him!\u2019<\/p>\n