Ex-Jackson Wink GM reveals Jones, Pico, Shields and gym's decline in bombshell interview

Former Jackson Wink general manager Mikhail Lyubimov has provided an extensive look behind the scenes at the legendary gym, revealing that co-founders Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn have burned out — with Jackson frequently absent and Winkeljohn increasingly disengaged and focused on real estate. Lyubimov disclosed that Jon Jones once forced Roman Dolidze out of the gym because he viewed him as a threat, and that Jones never remembered sparring partners including Jiri Prochazka, Vagab Vagabov, or Modestas Bukauskas. Other revelations include Cub Swanson permanently leaving the gym after Arman Ospanov broke his ribs with a spinning kick, Claressa Shields failing to progress in MMA due to laziness in wrestling, and Steve Garcia's elite sparring level drawing stunned reactions from teammates including Nikolai Ciosde.