Jon Jones declared "I hung up my gloves, fighter Jon Jones is no more. Now only businessman Jon Jones." Paulo Costa appears to be having severe weight issues, with his team posting video of him struggling to make 93 kg, despite previously competing at 84 kg. Costa also stated he hates Russian fighters and plans to beat Chimaev after his current opponent. Johnny Walker gave Jiri Prochazka a surprise gift related to his daughter's upcoming birth. Josh Hockit reportedly dropped his character immediately after filming ended and apologized to everyone. Merab Dvalishvili plans to fight twice more this year despite his broken nose.
Jon Jones has declared his fighting career over, while Paulo Costa is making headlines for a dramatic weight-management struggle and pointed comments about a future opponent.
Jones, 38, made the announcement bluntly, stating that fighter Jon Jones no longer exists and that he now operates solely as a businessman. The former heavyweight and light heavyweight champion carries a 28-1-0 professional record, standing six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach. Over his career he landed 4.38 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, while averaging nearly two takedowns per 15 minutes — numbers that underscored his dominance across two divisions.
Paulo Costa is dealing with a far more immediate problem. Despite having competed for years at 84 kilograms, his team posted video showing him visibly struggling to reach 93 kilograms — a significant step up in weight. The Brazilian, ranked 13th in the middleweight division at 35 years old, carries a 16-4-0 record and is one of the more active strikers in the UFC, averaging 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. Costa also made clear he has little regard for Russian fighters and identified Khamzat Chimaev as a target once he moves past his current opponent.
Elsewhere, light heavyweight contender Jiri Prochazka received a surprise personal gesture from fellow 205-pounder Johnny Walker, who gifted the Czech fighter something connected to the upcoming birth of his daughter. Prochazka, ranked second in the division at 33, holds a 32-6-1 record and an 80-inch reach, and has built a reputation as one of the division's most aggressive finishers with 5.69 significant strikes landed per minute.
Why it matters
- Jones stepping away, if confirmed, leaves the heavyweight division without one of its most decorated figures
- Costa's weight issues raise questions about his long-term divisional home ahead of his next bout
- Costa's stated intention to pursue Chimaev adds another thread to an already crowded middleweight picture
- Merab Dvalishvili, despite a broken nose, has indicated he intends to compete twice more before the year ends
