Former Jackson-Wink general manager Mikhail Lyubimov shared a series of revelations about the storied gym and its fighters. He disclosed that Josh Hawkins does not spar with heavyweights, with his primary sparring partner being a lightweight grappler with a losing record, and that Greg Jackson will not work his corner at the White House event due to political differences with the Trump administration. Lyubimov also revealed that Jon Jones once demanded Roman Dolidze be removed from the gym after Dolidze was causing problems in sparring for Jones and the coaching staff, and that the gym's decline stems from Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn burning out, with Winkeljohn increasingly focused on real estate. Additional details included Steve Garcia's exceptional sparring level, Cub Swanson's departure following a rib injury caused by Arman Ospanov, and Claressa Shields' struggles in MMA attributed to her reluctance to engage seriously with wrestling and grappling.
Sunday, June 14, 2026
