Jon Jones has announced he is hanging up his gloves, stating that "fighter Jon Jones is no more" and that he will now focus solely on being "businessman Jon Jones." Meanwhile, Paulo Costa has shifted his attitude toward Russian fighters, declaring he hates them and that Murzakanov will be his second consecutive Russian opponent on his record. Costa indicated that after defeating "this fat guy," Khamzat Chimaev will be his third Russian target. A video from Costa's camp showed him struggling significantly to make 93 kg, a notable jump from his previous fighting weight of 84 kg. Additionally, Merab Dvalishvili announced plans to fight twice more this year despite suffering a broken nose, and Sean Strickland briefly broke character after a press event to apologize to those present.
