Former Jackson Wink general manager Mikhail Lyubimov has shared a series of revelations about the gym's biggest names. Jon Jones reportedly had no memory of sparring with Jiří Procházka, Rodrigo Machado Vágabov, or Modesta Bukauskas, yet dominated all of them including heavyweights. Jones also demanded Roman Dolidze be removed from the gym after the Georgian repeatedly submitted Jones's BJJ coaches and taunted them. Lyubimov says Jackson Wink's decline stems from Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn burning out, with Winkeljohn now more focused on real estate than fighting, while Claressa Shields's MMA transition stalled because she was "very lazy" in wrestling despite excelling in boxing and kickboxing. Cub Swanson permanently left the gym after Arman Ospanov broke his ribs with a spinning kick.
Former Jackson Wink general manager Mikhail Lyubimov has gone public with a string of candid revelations about the Albuquerque gym's biggest names, painting a picture of a once-dominant camp in visible decline.
The most striking anecdotes center on Jon Jones, the 38-year-old heavyweight champion who stands six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach and carries a 28-1-0 professional record. According to Lyubimov, Jones routinely dominated sparring partners — including light heavyweight contenders Jiří Procházka, Rodrigo Machado Vágabov, and Modesta Bukauskas, as well as fellow heavyweights — yet had no recollection of those sessions afterward. Jones also reportedly demanded the gym remove Roman Dolidze after the Georgian fighter repeatedly submitted Jackson Wink's BJJ coaches and taunted them in the process. Dolidze, now 37 and training out of Xtreme Couture, holds a 15-5-0 record at middleweight, where he is ranked twelfth in the division.
Lyubimov also addressed Claressa Shields's stalled MMA transition, saying she excelled in boxing and kickboxing at the gym but was described as "very lazy" in her wrestling development. On Cub Swanson, Lyubimov says the veteran featherweight permanently departed Jackson Wink after Arman Ospanov broke his ribs with a spinning kick during training.
The former GM's most pointed comments concerned the gym's leadership, suggesting that co-founders Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn have burned out, with Winkeljohn now reportedly directing more energy toward real estate than combat sports coaching. Aaron Pico, a 29-year-old American prospect with a 14-5-0 record and an elite 8.96 takedowns per 15 minutes, remains affiliated with Jackson Wink, though the gym's future direction appears uncertain given Lyubimov's account.
Why it matters
- Jones's reported sparring dominance adds context to his sustained run at the top of two weight classes
- Dolidze's removal from the gym highlights the internal politics that can shape a fighter's career trajectory
- Lyubimov's account of coaching burnout raises questions about Jackson Wink's capacity to develop and retain elite talent going forward
