Former Jackson Wink general manager Mikhail Lyubimov shared a series of revelations about the gym's history and its notable fighters. He disclosed that Greg Jackson will not corner Josh Howlett at the UFC White House event due to political differences, and that Jon Jones once had Roman Dolidze removed from the gym because he viewed him as a threat. Lyubimov also said Claressa Shields' MMA career stalled because she was 'very lazy in wrestling,' and that the decline of Jackson Wink stems from both Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn burning out. He praised Steve Garcia's elite sparring level, noting even Nikolai Kiosse was stunned after working with him.
Former Jackson Wink general manager Mikhail Lyubimov has gone public with a string of candid revelations about the renowned Albuquerque gym, its internal culture, and several of its most prominent fighters.
Among the more striking disclosures, Lyubimov said Jon Jones personally had Roman Dolidze removed from Jackson Wink because Jones viewed the Georgian fighter as a competitive threat. Jones, now 38, carries a 28-1-0 record and remains one of combat sports' most decorated figures, boasting 58 percent striking accuracy and an exceptional 84-inch reach that stretches to 213 cm. Dolidze, a 37-year-old middleweight currently ranked twelfth in his division with a 15-5-0 record, trains out of Xtreme Couture following his departure from the gym.
Lyubimov also addressed Claressa Shields' stalled transition into MMA, attributing it bluntly to her being, in his words, very lazy in wrestling — a fundamental gap that limited her development inside the cage.
On the gym's current trajectory, Lyubimov pointed to burnout from both Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn as the root cause of Jackson Wink's decline from its peak as one of the sport's premier training centers. That burnout is apparently shaping present-day decisions as well: Lyubimov revealed Jackson will not corner Josh Howlett at the upcoming UFC White House event, citing political differences between the two.
On a more positive note, Lyubimov reserved praise for Steve Garcia, describing his sparring quality as elite-level and noting that even Nikolai Kiosse came away stunned after working with him.
Why it matters
- Jones' reported role in Dolidze's removal raises questions about athlete influence over gym membership decisions at elite facilities
- Jackson's absence from Howlett's corner at a high-profile event signals a meaningful rift between the veteran coach and one of his fighters
- The burnout narrative surrounding Jackson and Winkeljohn adds context to a broader sense that the gym's golden era may be behind it
