Former Jackson Wink general manager Mikhail Lyubimov shared a series of candid revelations about the storied gym. He disclosed that Josh Hooker's main sparring partner is a welterweight grappler with a losing record and that Greg Jackson will not corner Hooker at UFC White House due to political differences with the venue's host. Lyubimov also revealed that Jon Jones once had Roman Dolidze removed from the gym after Dolidze was causing problems for Jones and his BJJ coaches, and that a young Jiri Prochazka visited Jackson Wink but Jones had no memory of sparring him. Additional highlights include Steve Garcia's elite sparring performances, Cub Swanson's departure after Arman Ospanov broke his ribs in a sparring session, and Claressa Shields' struggles with wrestling being cited as the reason her MMA career stalled.
Former Jackson Wink general manager Mikhail Lyubimov has lifted the curtain on the inner workings of one of MMA's most celebrated gyms, sharing a string of candid disclosures about prominent fighters who trained there.
Among the more striking revelations, Lyubimov confirmed that Josh Hooker's primary sparring partner is a welterweight grappler who carries a losing record — an unorthodox preparation choice ahead of Hooker's appearance at UFC White House on June 14. He also disclosed that head coach Greg Jackson will not be in Hooker's corner at that event, citing political differences with the venue's host.
Jon Jones, the 38-year-old heavyweight standout who stands six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach and holds a 28-1-0 professional record, also featured prominently in Lyubimov's account. According to the former GM, Jones had Roman Dolidze removed from the gym after Dolidze repeatedly caused friction with Jones and his BJJ coaches. Dolidze, now a ranked middleweight at number 12 in the division, holds a 15-5-0 record and trains out of Xtreme Couture. The 37-year-old Georgian stands six-foot-two with a 76-inch reach.
In a lighter anecdote, Lyubimov noted that a young Jiri Prochazka once visited Jackson Wink, though Jones reportedly had no recollection of sparring him. Prochazka, now 33 and ranked second in the light heavyweight division, carries a 32-6-1 record and trains out of Jetsaam Gym Brno in the Czech Republic. He connects at a rate of 5.69 significant strikes per minute with 55 percent accuracy, making him one of the division's most dangerous offensive fighters.
Why it matters
- Jones exercising influence over gym personnel speaks to his long-standing status as the centerpiece of Jackson Wink's operations
- Jackson's absence from Hooker's corner at UFC White House is a notable development heading into the June 14 card
- Claressa Shields' wrestling deficiencies, cited by Lyubimov as the reason her MMA career stalled, raise broader questions about combat sports crossover timelines
- Steve Garcia's praised sparring performances and Cub Swanson's rib injury departure add texture to the gym's day-to-day competitive environment
Sunday, June 14, 2026
