Jon Jones declared he has hung up his gloves and is now only businessman Jon Jones, not fighter Jon Jones. Paulo Costa's team posted video showing him struggling to make 93 kilograms, a significant jump from his previous 84 kg weight class. Costa also expressed hatred for Russian fighters, saying Murzakanov will be his second straight Russian opponent, with Chimaev potentially third. Josh Howitt reportedly dropped his persona immediately after filming ended, apologizing to people present. Merab Dvalishvili plans to fight two more times this year despite a broken nose.
Jon Jones has declared himself retired from mixed martial arts, while Paulo Costa is making a notable move up in weight and Merab Dvalishvili is planning an ambitious return to action — all part of a busy week of news across the sport.
Jones, 38, made the announcement by stating he is now only "businessman Jon Jones," drawing a clear line between his competitive career and whatever comes next. The heavyweight champion finishes with a record of 28-1-0, standing six-foot-four with an extraordinary 84-inch reach. Over his career he averaged 4.38 significant strikes landed per minute at 58 percent accuracy, while also contributing 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes — a combination that made him one of the most complete fighters in the sport's history.
Costa, ranked 13th in the middleweight division at 35 years old, is generating attention for a different reason. Video posted by his team showed him visibly struggling to reach 93 kilograms, a substantial climb from the 84-kilogram limit of his previous weight class. The Brazilian carries a 16-4-0 record and is one of the division's most aggressive strikers, averaging 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. Costa also made clear his feelings toward upcoming opposition, noting that Murzakanov would be his second consecutive Russian opponent and suggesting Khamzat Chimaev could potentially follow as a third.
Chimaev, the top-ranked middleweight at 15-1-0, would be a formidable challenge in that scenario. The 32-year-old averages an elite 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes alongside 4.04 significant strikes landed per minute, making him one of the most dangerous fighters at 185 pounds.
Why it matters
- Jones retiring creates genuine uncertainty at the top of the heavyweight division
- Costa's weight transition raises questions about whether he can perform at light heavyweight
- A potential Costa-Chimaev clash would pit the 13th-ranked middleweight against the division's number-one contender
- Dvalishvili's plan to compete twice more in 2026 despite a broken nose signals continued activity at the top of the bantamweight division
