Jon Jones has announced his retirement from fighting, declaring that he has "hung up the gloves" and that "fighter Jon Jones is no more." Jones stated he will now focus solely on business pursuits as "businessman Jon Jones." The announcement was part of a broader update that also included news about Johnny Walker preparing a surprise for Jiri Prochazka related to the upcoming birth of his daughter. Paulo Costa made comments about facing Russian opponents, stating he "hates Russian fighters" and plans to defeat his upcoming opponent before potentially facing Khamzat Chimaev. Costa's team also shared footage showing him struggling to make 93 kg, a significant increase from his previous 84 kg fighting weight.
Jon Jones declared his retirement from mixed martial arts on April 11, 2026, announcing on social media that he has "hung up the gloves" and that "fighter Jon Jones is no more," shifting his focus entirely to business under his own description of himself as "businessman Jon Jones."
Jones, 38, finishes a career that stands at 28 wins and just one loss, a record that places him among the most accomplished fighters in the sport's history. Standing six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach, the Orthodox-stance heavyweight posted a striking accuracy of 58 percent throughout his career while averaging 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes — a combination of range and wrestling that defined his dominance across two divisions.
Separately, light heavyweight contender Johnny Walker is reportedly preparing a personal gesture for Jiri Prochazka tied to the upcoming birth of Prochazka's daughter. Prochazka, 33, carries a record of 32-6-1 and holds the number-two ranking at light heavyweight. The Czech fighter out of Jetsaam Gym Brno stands six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach and lands 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy.
Meanwhile, middleweight Paulo Costa made pointed remarks about facing Russian opponents, saying he "hates Russian fighters" and intends to beat his next opponent before potentially turning his attention to Khamzat Chimaev. Costa's team also released footage showing the Brazilian struggling to make 93 kilograms — a notable jump from his previous fighting weight of 84 kilograms. The 35-year-old ranked thirteenth in the middleweight division carries a 16-4-0 record and leads all three fighters in this cycle with 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute at 58 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Jones retiring at 28-1-0 leaves the heavyweight division without its dominant champion
- Costa's weight footage raises questions about his divisional future heading into his next assignment
- Walker's reported gesture toward Prochazka adds a personal dimension ahead of light heavyweight activity at number two in the rankings
