Jones Maps Out Chimaev’s Path Back

Khamzat Chimaev’s first career loss has prompted advice from Jon Jones, who believes the former UFC middleweight champion has enough ability to recover and pursue another meeting with Sean Strickland. Jones was surprised by the result and said it was difficult to watch Chimaev lose, but his assessment was not centered on doubt about Chimaev’s talent. Instead, Jones identified areas that could be sharpened after a fight in which Chimaev’s early control gave way to a much closer contest. According to MMA Fighting, Chimaev was a heavy favorite entering his first defense as UFC middleweight champion. He delivered a dominant first round against Strickland, yet the fight developed differently as it continued. Chimaev had moments during every round, but his wrestling became far less prominent and he eventually dropped a razor-close split decision. Jones sees that setback as an opportunity for Chimaev to examine the parts of his game that need more attention.

The defeat changed Chimaev’s status from champion to former champion, but it has not changed his stated target. Since the Strickland fight, he has been seeking a rematch. His next bout is not booked, and there is no confirmed opponent or rematch, although Chimaev has continued calling for an immediate return against Strickland before the end of 2026. Jones described himself as a fan of Chimaev and expressed confidence that he can rebound. His advice begins with an approach Jones says he uses in his own preparation: rather than focusing only on what already works, study the ways an opponent could create problems. That means considering an opponent’s strengths, identifying where danger may come from and recognizing which vulnerabilities are visible to others. For Chimaev, the Strickland fight offered a clear setting for that review. MMA Fighting described endurance as arguably the biggest issue he encountered. The strong opening round was followed by signs that Chimaev was running out of gas, even though he remained capable of producing moments throughout the contest. Jones believes the response should involve deliberate work in training rather than simply relying on the tools that have already made Chimaev a dangerous fighter.

Jones Targets Conditioning and Bottom Work

Jones’ most specific physical recommendation was a change to Chimaev’s endurance routine. He did not present the loss as proof that Chimaev lacks the skills to compete at the highest level. Rather, he suggested that improved conditioning could help ensure that the issues seen against Strickland do not follow Chimaev into future fights. With endurance viewed as a major factor in that bout, Jones advised trying something different in preparation. The other major point involved positions that Chimaev does not often occupy in public view. Jones noted that Chimaev is rarely seen fighting from his back. He encouraged him to spend more time there, build comfort in that circumstance and use the position as a place to develop attacks instead of treating it only as a disadvantage. In Jones’ view, increased familiarity could allow Chimaev to look for submissions while on his back. That perspective follows Jones’ broader method of preparing for opponents. He said he asks how an opponent can beat him, where that opponent is strong and where his own weaknesses may be perceived. Applied to Chimaev, the idea is to address the areas exposed by the Strickland contest while retaining the qualities that made the former champion so effective before the loss.

Chimaev’s skill set was not questioned by Jones. He pointed to Chimaev’s kicking, boxing and wrestling, with particular emphasis on the body lock. Those weapons remain central to Jones’ belief that Chimaev can recover from the split decision and potentially reclaim the title. The advice is therefore not a call for Chimaev to abandon his established strengths; it is a call to make his overall game more complete when a fight moves into unfamiliar or difficult territory. Endurance concerns had reportedly led Chimaev to consider moving to light heavyweight. He later changed course and is now focused on competing at 185 pounds. That decision keeps his attention on the middleweight division, where he hopes Strickland will again be standing across the octagon from him. Jones also framed the response as more than a technical adjustment. A loss can affect how a fighter thinks, how confident that fighter feels and how that fighter sees himself. For that reason, conditioning work and ground training are only part of the plan Jones outlined. The emotional and mental response, he said, deserves just as much focus after a first defeat.

Jones Says the Mental Response Matters

For Jones, Chimaev’s next stage should include a return to the drawing board. He would work toward becoming comfortable on his back and developing a stronger jiu-jitsu game from that position. The objective is not merely to survive there, but to be prepared to create submission opportunities when a fight requires it. Jones paired that advice with a direct focus on mindset. He said defeat can change a fighter’s mind, confidence and self-image. Chimaev’s response, in his view, should include protecting and rebuilding those areas rather than allowing the result against Strickland to define what comes next. The message was not to dismiss the loss or pretend its lessons do not matter. Jones instead presented defeat as something that happens in fighting and something that can reveal a better version of a person. His confidence in Chimaev is rooted in the abilities he already sees: a strong kicker, boxer and wrestler, especially when Chimaev gets to the body lock. The task now is to strengthen the areas that became more important as the Strickland fight went on.

• Rework endurance preparation after the conditioning issues seen against Strickland.
• Train more often from the back and develop submission options from that position.
• Treat the mental impact of defeat as an important part of the comeback.

Chimaev does not yet have a booked next fight, and a rematch with Strickland has not been confirmed. What is established is his continued push for that matchup and his current focus on competing at 185 pounds. Jones believes Chimaev has the weapons to bounce back, but he also sees a clear path for improvement after the first loss of his career: revise the endurance work, become more capable from bottom positions and give serious attention to confidence and mindset.