Johnny Walker gave Jiri Prochazka a surprise gift related to the imminent birth of Prochazka's daughter. Jon Jones stated he has hung up his gloves and is now only businessman Jon Jones, not fighter Jon Jones. Paulo Costa has shifted his stance, saying he hates Russian fighters and that after dealing with "this fat guy," Khamzat Chimaev will be third on his list. Someone from Costa's team posted video showing him struggling significantly to make 93 kg, despite previously competing at 84 kg. Josh Hockitt reportedly broke character after filming ended, switching to a normal tone and apologizing for his antics. Merab Dvalishvili plans to fight twice more this year despite his broken nose. The ceremonial weigh-ins saw strong showings from Karl Ulberg and Jiri Prochazka.
A busy pre-event news cycle has delivered a string of notable fighter updates ahead of the latest UFC card, touching on retirement, weight-cut chaos, and a heartfelt personal moment.
The most personal story belongs to Jiri Prochazka, who received a surprise gift from fellow light heavyweight Johnny Walker connected to the imminent arrival of Prochazka's daughter. The Czech contender, ranked second at 185 pounds and carrying a 32-6-1 record at 33 years old, remains one of the most dynamic strikers in the division, landing 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy across his career. He also looked sharp at the ceremonial weigh-ins, where Karl Ulberg also drew positive notices.
Jon Jones, 38, declared himself retired, stating he is now businessman Jon Jones rather than fighter Jon Jones. The former champion holds a 28-1-0 record and a reach of 84 inches, and his departure, if permanent, would reshape the heavyweight landscape considerably.
Paulo Costa, the Brazilian middleweight ranked thirteenth with a 16-4-0 record, finds himself at the center of two separate stories. Costa, who lands a remarkable 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, sharpened his rhetoric toward Russian fighters and named Khamzat Chimaev as a future target after dealing with his current opponent. Separately, footage posted by his team showed Costa struggling heavily to reach 93 kilograms — a number that is already well above his usual 84-kilogram middleweight limit and raises questions about his current weight class plans.
Why it matters
- Jones confirming retirement removes the UFC's most decorated heavyweight from the active roster
- Costa's weight footage clouds his divisional future and the credibility of any near-term booking
- Prochazka's strong ceremonial weigh-in appearance reinforces his status as a frontline contender at light heavyweight
