UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is once again the topic of conversation as his highly anticipated return to the Octagon nears. On November 16, Jones is set to defend his title against Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309, a bout that many believe could be the final chapter of his storied career.

However, as the spotlight turns to his return, Jones has found himself facing a bold claim from Indiana Pacers power forward James Johnson, who believes he could defeat the reigning champion in an MMA fight. Johnson, who stands at 6’8”, has asserted that with a year of ground defense training, he could pose a real threat to Jones. Despite boasting an undefeated record of 20-0 in kickboxing and 7-0 in MMA, none of these records have been verified or documented in official combat sports databases.

In an interview with Bloody Elbow, Johnson expressed his confidence, saying, “I think I could beat him for real. But like I said, with a year of training defense. I just need ground defense.” He continued to elaborate on his striking pedigree, claiming an early start in martial arts and highlighting his belief that he would have an advantage standing up, as long as he could prevent Jones from taking the fight to the ground. “He started learning how to use his hands and feet after college. I’ve been doing this since I was five or six,” Johnson stated, contrasting his upbringing with Jones’ wrestling background.

Jones, preparing for his clash with Miocic, took a brief moment to respond humorously to Johnson’s claims. “I didn’t realize until now, that basketball players got CTE as well, this man sounds crazy,” Jones quipped, adding fuel to the fire. His lighthearted jab was echoed by other UFC fighters, including former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, who chimed in with, “I see red bro!” in the comments section of the social media post where Jones shared his response.

Johnson’s claims continue to raise eyebrows due to the lack of verifiable evidence for his fighting record. While the 37-year-old maintains that he’s been honing his skills for years, his bold statements are met with skepticism and humor from the MMA community, making this exchange one of many to keep the spotlight on Jones as his return approaches.