Jon Jones announced he has hung up his gloves and that "fighter Jon Jones" no longer exists, stating he is now only "businessman Jon Jones." The declaration was included in a roundup of UFC 327 week news. Additionally, the summary mentioned that Johnny Walker gave Jiri Prochazka a surprise gift related to Prochazka's upcoming daughter, Paulo Costa reversed his stance to express hatred for Russian fighters, and video emerged of Costa struggling to make 93kg after previously competing at 84kg. Josh Howitt reportedly broke character after filming, apologizing to those present and switching to a normal tone.
Jon Jones declared this week that his fighting career is over, announcing during UFC 327 week that "fighter Jon Jones no longer exists" and that he now considers himself only "businessman Jon Jones."
Jones, 38, finishes with a professional record of 28-1-0, a career that made him one of the most accomplished fighters in mixed martial arts history. Standing six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach, he posted a striking accuracy of 58 percent across his career while averaging 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes — a well-rounded offensive profile that defined his dominance across multiple eras of the sport.
The retirement declaration was one of several notable storylines to emerge during UFC 327 week. Light heavyweight contender Jiri Prochazka, ranked second in the division, received a surprise gift from fellow 205-pounder Johnny Walker connected to the expected birth of Prochazka's daughter. The Czech fighter, 33, carries a record of 32-6-1 and is one of the more aggressive strikers in the weight class, averaging 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy.
Middleweight Paulo Costa also generated attention this week on two separate fronts. The Brazilian, ranked 13th at 185 pounds, walked back an earlier position to announce he now holds a strong animosity toward Russian fighters. Separately, video surfaced showing Costa visibly struggling to hit 93 kilograms — a notable data point given that his division's limit sits at 84 kilograms.
Why it matters
- Jones's retirement, if confirmed, removes the reigning heavyweight champion from the divisional picture entirely
- Prochazka, already ranked second at light heavyweight, figures into any conversation about the division's immediate future
- Costa's weight footage raises questions about his ability to compete at middleweight going forward, with no indication yet of a planned move up in class
Saturday, April 11, 2026
