Former Jackson-Wink general manager Mikhail Lyubimov shared a series of revelations about the renowned gym, including that Josh Howkit's primary sparring partner is a welterweight grappler with a losing record, and that Greg Jackson will not corner Howkit at the White House event for political reasons. Lyubimov also disclosed that Jon Jones pushed Roman Dolidze out of the gym after Dolidze was repeatedly giving Jones and his BJJ coaches trouble in sparring, and that the gym's decline stems from Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn burning out, with Winkeljohn now more focused on real estate. Additional notes covered the gym-level dominance of Steve Garcia, Cub Swanson's departure after Arman Ospanov broke his ribs, and Claressa Shields' MMA struggles due to her unwillingness to train wrestling.
Mikhail Lyubimov, a former general manager at Jackson-Wink MMA, went public with a wide-ranging set of disclosures about the storied Albuquerque gym, offering an unusually candid look at its internal dynamics ahead of the UFC White House event on June 14.
Among the more striking claims, Lyubimov revealed that Josh Howkit's primary sparring partner heading into that card is a welterweight grappler carrying a losing record. He also stated that head coach Greg Jackson will not corner Howkit at the event, citing political reasons tied to the White House setting.
Lyubimov further alleged that 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, pushed Roman Dolidze out of the gym after Dolidze repeatedly caused problems for Jones and his Brazilian jiu-jitsu coaches during sparring sessions. Dolidze, now listed with Xtreme Couture and ranked twelfth in the middleweight division at 37 years old, holds a 15-5-0 record and lands 3.19 significant strikes per minute with a submission attempt rate of 0.7 per 15 minutes — numbers that suggest a well-rounded threat on the mat.
Lyubimov attributed the gym's broader decline to Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn burning out after years at the top of the sport, with Winkeljohn reportedly redirecting significant energy toward real estate ventures.
Why it matters
- Jackson-Wink's coaching depth and athlete development pipeline appear diminished by the departures and reduced focus of its founders
- Howkit heading into a high-profile card with a losing-record sparring partner raises questions about fight preparation quality
- The Jones-Dolidze episode highlights ongoing tension between established stars and rising gym members competing for resources and mat time
- Cub Swanson's exit following rib injuries attributed to Arman Ospanov, and Claressa Shields' wrestling resistance, add to a picture of structural instability
Steve Garcia, the 34-year-old southpaw and one of the gym's remaining standouts, has posted a 19-6-0 record and leads the team in output with 5.39 significant strikes landed per minute, suggesting individual talent still exists within the program despite the institutional concerns Lyubimov outlined.
Sunday, June 14, 2026
