Jon Jones has declared that he has hung up his gloves and retired from fighting. Jones stated that the fighter version of himself no longer exists and that he is now solely focused on being a businessman. The announcement comes as part of a series of fighter updates. Other notable items mentioned include Paulo Costa struggling to make 93kg and planning to fight Russian opponents, and Merab Dvalishvili planning two more fights this year despite a broken nose. The ceremonial weigh-in also took place with energy from the crowd focused on fighters including Jiri Prochazka.
Jon Jones, widely regarded as one of the most accomplished fighters in UFC history, announced his retirement on April 11, 2026, declaring in his own words that "fighter Jon Jones is no more" and that he is now focused entirely on his business pursuits.
Jones, 38, finishes his career with a record of 28-1-0. The six-foot-four heavyweight, who carries an extraordinary 84-inch reach, posted a striking accuracy of 58 percent across his career while also averaging 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes — a mark that underscores just how complete a fighter he was. His lone loss on paper has long been a source of debate among fans of the sport.
Also surfacing in the same round of fighter updates, middleweight Paulo Costa is reportedly struggling to make 93 kilograms and has indicated he is targeting Russian opponents for his next bout. Costa, 35, holds a 16-4-0 record and is ranked 13th in the middleweight division. The Brazilian is one of the sport's most aggressive strikers, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy.
Separately, bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili has signaled his intention to compete twice more before the year is out, though he is currently dealing with a broken nose. Meanwhile, a ceremonial weigh-in drew notable crowd energy around light heavyweight Jiri Prochazka, the 33-year-old Czech fighter ranked second in his division. Prochazka carries a record of 32-6-1 and is among the division's most explosive performers, landing 5.69 significant strikes per minute with a reach of 80 inches.
Why it matters
- Jones's retirement, if it holds, removes the UFC heavyweight champion from the competitive landscape entirely
- Costa's weight concerns at 93 kg could signal a potential division or catchweight shift
- Prochazka's weigh-in presence keeps him in the spotlight at light heavyweight, where the division's direction may now be reshaped by Jones's exit
