Johnny Walker gave Jiri Prochazka a surprise gift in honor of Prochazka's soon-to-be-born daughter. Jon Jones announced his retirement, stating he's hung up his gloves and now focuses solely on business. Paulo Costa made inflammatory comments targeting Russian fighters, specifically mentioning Khamzat Chimaev. Video emerged showing Costa struggling to make 93 kg at weigh-ins, notably heavier than his previous 84 kg division. Josh Haqkayit apologized for his antics immediately after filming ended. Merab Dvalishvili plans two more fights this year despite a broken nose. Both Carlos Ulberg and Prochazka successfully made weight at the ceremonial weigh-ins.
A flurry of storylines swirled around UFC 327 on April 11, 2026, ranging from a heartfelt gesture between light heavyweight contenders to Jon Jones announcing the end of his fighting career.
Brazilian middleweight Paulo Costa, ranked 13th in his division at 35 years old, stirred controversy by making pointed remarks directed at Russian fighters, specifically calling out Khamzat Chimaev. Adding to the spectacle, video surfaced of Costa struggling to reach 93 kg at a weigh-in — a striking contrast to his natural middleweight frame, given his previous competition at 84 kg. Costa holds a 16-4 record and is one of the sport's most aggressive strikers, averaging 6.26 significant strikes landed per minute at 58 percent accuracy.
Jiri Prochazka, the second-ranked light heavyweight contender out of the Czech Republic, received a surprise gift from fellow 205-pound fighter Johnny Walker in honor of Prochazka's soon-to-be-born daughter. The 33-year-old Prochazka, standing six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach, carries a 32-6-1 record and is among the division's most dynamic strikers, landing 5.69 significant strikes per minute. He and Carlos Ulberg both cleared the scales at the UFC 327 ceremonial weigh-ins without issue.
Jon Jones, the 38-year-old former champion with a 28-1 record and one of the most decorated careers in UFC history, announced his retirement, saying he has hung up his gloves and is now focused entirely on business pursuits.
Merab Dvalishvili revealed he is dealing with a broken nose but intends to compete twice more before the year is out. Separately, Josh Haqkayit offered an apology for his behavior, which occurred immediately after a filming session concluded.
Why it matters
- Prochazka's successful weigh-in keeps his light heavyweight title aspirations firmly on track heading into UFC 327
- Jones's retirement declaration removes one of the sport's most prominent heavyweight figures from the competitive landscape
- Costa's weight footage raises questions about his long-term divisional home at middleweight
Saturday, April 11, 2026
