Paulo Costa's team released footage showing him having significant difficulty making 93 kg (205 pounds), a notable concern given he previously competed at 84 kg (185 pounds). Costa also stated his hatred for Russian fighters, saying Murzakanov will be the second in a row he defeats, with plans to face Chimaev third. Jon Jones made a surprising statement claiming he has hung up his gloves and fighter Jon Jones no longer exists, now only businessman Jon Jones remains. Merab Dvalishvili announced plans to fight twice more this year despite suffering a broken nose. Johnny Walker gave Jiri Prochazka a surprise gift related to the upcoming birth of his daughter.
Paulo Costa's preparation for his upcoming light heavyweight bout has raised eyebrows after his team released footage showing him in serious difficulty cutting to 93 kilograms — a weight class already 8 kilograms above the middleweight limit where he has spent most of his career.
Costa, 35, holds a 16-4-0 record and is currently ranked 13th in the middleweight division, though his recent activity has seen him campaigning at light heavyweight. The Brazilian out of Team Borracha stands six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach and is one of the sport's most aggressive strikers, averaging 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute at 58 percent accuracy. Despite the weight concerns, Costa was vocal in the footage, expressing hostility toward Russian fighters and predicting he will defeat Azamat Murzakanov next before targeting a third consecutive win over Khamzat Chimaev.
Jon Jones, meanwhile, made a striking declaration that he has retired, stating that fighter Jon Jones no longer exists and that only businessman Jon Jones remains. Jones, 38, carries a 28-1-0 record and stands six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach, a combination that helped him dominate opponents across two divisions. His striking accuracy sits at 58 percent and he averaged 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career.
Elsewhere, Merab Dvalishvili announced intentions to compete twice more before the year is out, a notable commitment given he is doing so while recovering from a broken nose. And in a lighter moment, light heavyweight contender Johnny Walker presented Czech Republic standout Jiri Prochazka with a gift connected to the expected arrival of Prochazka's daughter.
Why it matters
- Costa's weight footage raises genuine questions about his ability to make 205 pounds consistently as he moves up from middleweight
- Jones's retirement statement, if genuine, would create a vacancy at the top of the heavyweight division and reshape the landscape entirely
- Prochazka, ranked second at light heavyweight with a 32-6-1 record, remains a central figure in the division regardless of Jones's status
