Jon Jones has announced his retirement from fighting, declaring that he has hung up his gloves for good. Jones stated that the fighter version of himself no longer exists and he is now focused on business pursuits. The announcement came amid a collection of updates from various fighters. Johnny Walker gave Jiri Prochazka a surprise gift related to his upcoming daughter's birth. Paulo Costa continued his recent shift in rhetoric, expressing animosity toward Russian fighters and specifically targeting his upcoming opponent. Merab Dvalishvili announced plans to fight twice more this year despite a broken nose.
Jon Jones, the heavyweight champion known as "Bones," declared his retirement from mixed martial arts on April 11, posting that the fighter version of himself no longer exists and that he is now focused entirely on business ventures. Jones did not announce the decision through a formal press release but made the statement publicly, signaling what he described as a permanent exit from competition.
Jones, 38, leaves the sport with a 28-1-0 record and a legacy that most observers consider unmatched. Standing six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach, he was a physical specimen who combined elite wrestling — averaging 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes — with 58 percent striking accuracy and an output of 4.38 significant strikes per minute. His single official loss came by disqualification, a footnote that did little to diminish his standing.
The wider fighter news cycle on the same day included several notable items. Light heavyweight contender Jiri Prochazka, ranked second in the division at 33 years old, received a surprise gift from fellow light heavyweight Johnny Walker connected to the upcoming birth of Prochazka's daughter. The Czech fighter carries a 32-6-1 record and one of the more aggressive striking profiles in the division, landing 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy.
Paulo Costa, ranked 13th at middleweight with a 16-4-0 record, continued what has become a pattern of pointed pre-fight rhetoric, this time directing hostility toward Russian fighters broadly and toward his next opponent specifically. The Brazilian, known as "The Eraser," averages 6.26 significant strikes per minute with 58 percent accuracy, making him one of the higher-volume punchers in the 185-pound class.
Bantamweight Merab Dvalishvili also surfaced in the news cycle, announcing that he intends to compete twice more before the end of 2026 despite currently dealing with a broken nose.
Why it matters
- Jones's retirement, if it holds, creates a permanent vacancy at the top of the heavyweight division's historical conversation.
- Prochazka remains a divisional title contender at rank two, with his personal milestone adding a human element to his fight camp.
- Costa's escalating opponent-targeted rhetoric suggests his upcoming fight is building toward a charged atmosphere well before fight night.
