Several notable UFC developments have emerged from recent fighter activities. Jon Jones has announced his retirement from active competition, stating he is now only a businessman and that "fighter Jon Jones" no longer exists. Paulo Costa struggled significantly to make 93kg at weigh-ins according to team video, a notable jump from his previous 84kg weight class. Costa also made inflammatory comments targeting Russian fighters, including Azamat Murzakanov and Khamzat Chimaev. Johnny Walker presented Jiri Prochazka with a surprise gift related to the Czech fighter's upcoming daughter. Josh Hockit was reportedly caught on camera immediately dropping his antagonistic persona after filming ended and apologizing to those present. Merab Dvalishvili confirmed plans to fight twice more in 2026 despite his broken nose.
A flurry of notable UFC developments surfaced on April 11, 2026, touching on retirement, weight-class drama, locker-room gestures, and fighter health updates.
The biggest news came from Jon Jones, who declared himself finished as a competitor. The 38-year-old former champion, who stands six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach and carries a 28-1-0 professional record, told followers he is now solely a businessman and that "fighter Jon Jones" no longer exists. His striking accuracy of 58 percent and 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes made him one of the most complete fighters the sport has seen, which gives his retirement announcement considerable weight.
Paulo Costa, the 35-year-old Brazilian ranked 13th in the middleweight division at 16-4-0, generated controversy on two fronts. A team video showed the six-foot-one striker visibly struggling to reach 93 kilograms at a weigh-in — a significant leap from his previous competition weight of 84 kilograms. Costa, who averages 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, also made pointed comments directed at Russian fighters Azamat Murzakanov and Khamzat Chimaev, drawing widespread attention online.
In a lighter moment, Johnny Walker surprised Jiri Prochazka with a gift tied to the Czech fighter's upcoming arrival of a daughter. Prochazka, ranked second at light heavyweight with a 32-6-1 record, stands six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach and lands 5.69 significant strikes per minute. The gesture from Walker added an unusual human-interest angle to an otherwise eventful news cycle.
Elsewhere, footage allegedly showed Josh Hockit immediately dropping an antagonistic on-camera persona once filming stopped, apologizing to those around him. Meanwhile, bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili confirmed he intends to compete twice more in 2026 despite currently dealing with a broken nose.
Why it matters
- Jones's retirement, if confirmed, leaves a massive void at heavyweight and reshapes the divisional landscape
- Costa's weight jump raises questions about his long-term divisional home and future matchmaking
- Dvalishvili's commitment to two fights in 2026 signals continued activity in a loaded bantamweight division
