Multiple UFC storylines emerged from recent media. Johnny Walker surprised Jiri Prochazka with a gift ahead of his daughter's birth. Jon Jones declared himself retired as a fighter, saying he's now only a businessman. Paulo Costa changed his tune, stating he hates Russian fighters and promising to defeat his opponent before targeting Khamzat Chimaev. Video from Costa's team showed him struggling significantly to reach 93kg, a notable jump from his previous 84kg weight class. Josh Hockit was caught on camera immediately dropping his persona after filming ended, apologizing to those present. Merab Dvalishvili plans two more fights this year despite a broken nose.
Paulo Costa is making noise ahead of his next fight, declaring his disdain for Russian fighters and posting footage that revealed just how much his body is struggling to adapt to a new weight class.
Video shared by Costa's team showed the Brazilian laboring to hit 93 kilograms — a significant climb from the 84-kilogram middleweight limit he has competed at throughout his UFC career. The 35-year-old, who carries a 16-4 record and currently sits ranked thirteenth in the middleweight division, made clear he intends to beat his upcoming opponent before setting his sights on Khamzat Chimaev. Costa, known as "The Eraser," is one of the more relentless pressure fighters in the UFC, averaging 6.26 significant strikes per minute with 58 percent accuracy — numbers that rank among the best in any weight class.
Elsewhere in the media cycle, Jon Jones, the 38-year-old former champion standing six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach and a career record of 28-1, declared himself retired as a fighter and described his current role as strictly that of a businessman. No official retirement filing was referenced, but the statement was direct.
Johnny Walker made headlines for a warmer reason, surprising Czech light heavyweight contender Jiri Prochazka with a gift ahead of the birth of Prochazka's daughter. The 33-year-old Czech, ranked second in the light heavyweight division with a 32-6-1 record, stands six-foot-three with a reach of 80 inches and averages 5.69 significant strikes per minute.
Merab Dvalishvili also surfaced in recent coverage, stating his intention to compete twice more before the year ends despite dealing with a broken nose.
Why it matters
- Costa's weight jump to 93 kilograms raises questions about his long-term divisional home and physical readiness
- His public targeting of Chimaev adds a potential high-profile matchup to the super-welterweight conversation
- Jones's retirement remarks, if sustained, would leave a significant vacancy at the top of the heavyweight landscape
