Jon Jones has announced his retirement from fighting, stating that he has hung up his gloves. Jones declared that 'the fighter Jon Jones is no more' and that he is now 'only businessman Jon Jones.' This post also includes several other updates from the MMA world. Paulo Costa reportedly struggled to make 93 kg during weight cut preparations, having previously competed at 84 kg. Merab Dvalishvili plans to fight two more times this year despite suffering a broken nose. Johnny Walker surprised Jiri Prochazka with a gift related to the upcoming birth of Prochazka's daughter.
Jon Jones declared his retirement from mixed martial arts on April 11, 2026, stating that he has hung up his gloves and is transitioning away from competition entirely. In his own words, "the fighter Jon Jones is no more," replaced now by what he describes as "only businessman Jon Jones."
Jones, 38, ends his career with a record of 28-1-0, widely regarded as one of the most accomplished fighters the sport has produced. Standing six-foot-four with an extraordinary 84-inch reach, the Orthodox striker landed 4.38 significant strikes per minute across his career at 58 percent accuracy, while also averaging 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes — a combination of offensive tools that defined his long run at the top of the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions.
Elsewhere in the news, Paulo Costa reportedly encountered difficulty during weight cut preparations, struggling to reach 93 kilograms despite previously having competed at 84 kilograms. Costa, 35, holds a 16-4-0 record and is currently ranked 13th in the middleweight division. The Brazilian is one of the more prolific strikers in the sport, averaging 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy.
Merab Dvalishvili is pressing ahead with an ambitious schedule, stating his intention to compete twice more in 2026 despite having suffered a broken nose.
On a lighter note, light heavyweight contender Johnny Walker surprised fellow 205-pound fighter Jiri Prochazka with a gift connected to the upcoming birth of Prochazka's daughter. The Czech Republic native, ranked second in the light heavyweight division at 33 years old, carries a 32-6-1 record and is known for his aggressive output — landing 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy with a reach of 80 inches.
Why it matters
- Jones retiring removes the heavyweight division's most prominent individual presence and reshapes the title picture
- Costa's reported weight management difficulties at 93 kg raise questions about his divisional future heading upward from middleweight
- Dvalishvili's determination to fight twice despite injury signals an active period ahead for the bantamweight division
