Jon Jones announced he has hung up his gloves and declared that fighter Jon Jones no longer exists, only businessman Jon Jones. Paulo Costa stated he hates Russian fighters and that his upcoming opponent will be the second Russian in a row on his record, with plans to face Khamzat Chimaev as the third. Someone from Costa's team posted a video showing him struggling to make 93 kg, despite previously competing at 84 kg. Merab Dvalishvili plans to fight two more times this year despite a broken nose. The post also mentions ceremonial weigh-in staredowns involving Carlos Ulberg and Jiri Prochazka.
Jon Jones sent shockwaves through the combat sports world on April 11 when he declared his fighting career is over, announcing that the fighter once known as "Bones" no longer exists — only the businessman remains. The news arrived alongside a flurry of other developments involving Paulo Costa's weight struggles and future ambitions, Merab Dvalishvili's injury update, and ceremonial staredowns between Carlos Ulberg and Jiri Prochazka.
Jones, 38, retires with a record of 28-1-0 and a legacy that is difficult to overstate. Standing six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach, the orthodox heavyweight was one of the most technically complete fighters the sport has seen, landing 4.38 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy while also averaging 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career.
Paulo Costa, meanwhile, is drawing a sharp line around his future ambitions. The Brazilian middleweight, ranked 13th in the division, told fans he harbors a particular disdain for Russian opponents and revealed his upcoming fight will mark the second Russian on his résumé, with Khamzat Chimaev targeted as a third. Concerns emerged from Costa's camp, however, after a video surfaced showing the 35-year-old struggling to reach 93 kilograms — a notable development given that he spent the bulk of his career competing at 84 kilograms. Costa carries a 16-4-0 record and generates an impressive 6.26 significant strikes per minute, though he has never attempted a submission in UFC competition.
Prochazka, the number-two ranked light heavyweight out of the Czech Republic, appeared at ceremonial weigh-in staredowns with Carlos Ulberg. The 33-year-old holds a 32-6-1 record and stands six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach, producing 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy.
Why it matters
- Jones's retirement, if confirmed, leaves the heavyweight division without its most decorated recent champion
- Costa's weight situation raises serious questions about whether a move above middleweight is imminent or necessary
- A potential Costa-Chimaev matchup would carry significant divisional implications at middleweight and potentially super-middleweight
- Prochazka's presence at staredowns signals his next assignment in the light heavyweight title picture is drawing closer
