LIVE
Share on FacebookThe mixed martial arts landscape witnessed an unexpected crossover moment in Moscow, Russia, where former UFC heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones publicly threw his support behind lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan. The encounter took place during the IBA Bare Knuckle 5 event at the CSKA Arena, where Jones served as a special guest and co-host.
Standing directly beside Tsarukyan at the ringside gathering, Jones was explicitly asked by an interviewer to pick a winner in a hypothetical matchup between Tsarukyan and UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria. Without hesitation, the former two-division king gave a definitive answer, stating, "You already know... Arman all day".
The public declaration added immediate fuel to the ongoing narrative surrounding the UFC's lightweight elite. Tsarukyan, currently sitting at the very top of the 155-pound contender rankings, has been actively pursuing a title fight. Having a fighter of Jones' stature—widely regarded as the sport's greatest of all time—verbally back his capabilities provides considerable leverage.
Beyond the formal prediction, the two international athletes displayed an organic camaraderie that quickly went viral across combat sports media platforms. While former bantamweight champion Petr Yan was center stage attempting to deliver a serious speech to the Moscow crowd, cameras caught Jones and Tsarukyan laughing, joking, and playing around behind his back. At one point, Tsarukyan playfully filmed Jones on a phone, jokingly calling the heavyweight icon his "new videographer". Jones playfully went along with the joke, claiming his services cost "five million per" video.
This candid interaction showed a rare, relaxed side of the legendary fighter while cementing a clear alliance between two generations of dominant MMA wrestlers.
