Jon Jones has stated he has hung up his gloves and is no longer a fighter, declaring himself now only a businessman. Paulo Costa has changed his stance on opponents, saying he hates Russian fighters and that Azamat Murzakanov will be the second Russian in a row on his record, with Khamzat Chimaev potentially being third. Video emerged from Costa's team showing him struggling to make 93 kg, a significant jump from his previous 84 kg weight class. Meanwhile, Merab Dvalishvili plans to fight twice more this year despite a broken nose, and Josh Hockett reportedly dropped his persona after filming ended, apologizing to those present.
Jon Jones sent shockwaves through the combat sports world on April 11 at UFC 327, declaring himself no longer a fighter and identifying only as a businessman — a statement that amounts to a retirement announcement from one of the sport's all-time greats.
Jones, 38, carries a professional record of 28-1-0 and stands as one of the most decorated heavyweights in UFC history. The six-foot-four, orthodox fighter out of New Mexico boasted a remarkable 84-inch reach and posted 4.38 significant strikes landed per minute across his career, along with 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes — a combination that made him nearly impossible to game-plan against. No timeline or formal retirement filing was referenced alongside his comments.
Paulo Costa, meanwhile, used the UFC 327 platform to reveal a notable change in outlook. The Brazilian middleweight, ranked 13th at 16-4-0, declared a particular disdain for Russian opponents, noting that Azamat Murzakanov will be the second Russian fighter in a row to appear on his record. He also suggested Khamzat Chimaev could follow as a third. Footage from Costa's team showed him working to make 93 kg — a substantial step up from his previous 84 kg middleweight cut. The six-foot-one striker is one of the division's most aggressive volume punchers, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy.
Chimaev, the number-one ranked middleweight at 15-1-0, would represent a steep challenge. The 32-year-old fighting out of the UAE averages a division-leading 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands 60 percent of his significant strikes, making him a genuine two-way threat.
Why it matters
- Jones's retirement, if confirmed, leaves the heavyweight division without its dominant figure of the modern era
- Costa moving toward a potential Chimaev bout pits the 13th-ranked striker against the division's top contender
- Costa's weight adjustment to 93 kg raises questions about where he competes next
- Merab Dvalishvili's stated intention to fight twice more in 2026 despite a broken nose signals continued activity at the top of the bantamweight division
Saturday, April 11, 2026
