Former Jackson-Wink general manager Mikhail Lyubimov shared a series of revealing details about the renowned gym. He disclosed that Josh Hooker's primary sparring partner for the White House card is a welterweight grappler with a losing record, and that Greg Jackson will not be in Hooker's corner at the event due to political differences. Lyubimov also revealed that Jon Jones had no memory of sparring with Jiri Prochazka, and that Jones once forced Roman Dolidze out of the gym after Dolidze repeatedly submitted Jones's BJJ coaches. Additional revelations included Cub Swanson permanently leaving the gym after Arman Ospanov broke his ribs with a spinning kick, and Claressa Shields failing to progress in MMA due to extreme unwillingness to train wrestling and grappling.
Former Jackson-Wink general manager Mikhail Lyubimov has gone public with a string of candid revelations about the inner workings of one of MMA's most storied training camps, touching on several current and former members of the gym ahead of UFC White House on June 14.
Among the more striking disclosures concerns light heavyweight contender Jiri Prochazka. Lyubimov claims that Jon Jones, when informed he had sparred with the Czech fighter, had no recollection of the session whatsoever. Prochazka, who holds a 32-6-1 record and is currently ranked second in the light heavyweight division, trains out of Jetsaam Gym Brno and is known for high output, averaging 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. Jones, 38, carries a 28-1-0 record and is regarded as one of the most decorated fighters in the sport's history, averaging 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career.
Lyubimov also described a tense episode involving Roman Dolidze, the 37-year-old Georgian middleweight ranked 12th in his division with a 15-5-0 record. According to Lyubimov, Jones personally forced Dolidze out of Jackson-Wink after Dolidze repeatedly submitted the gym's Brazilian jiu-jitsu coaches.
On the eve of UFC White House, Lyubimov revealed that Dan Hooker's preparation has been handled primarily by a welterweight grappler who carries a losing record, and that head coach Greg Jackson will not work Hooker's corner at the event due to political disagreements.
Additional disclosures covered two other notable names. Lyubimov said Cub Swanson departed Jackson-Wink permanently after Arman Ospanov broke his ribs with a spinning kick during training. He also stated that boxing champion Claressa Shields stalled in her MMA development because of a deep reluctance to engage seriously with wrestling and grappling work.
Why it matters
- Hooker's reported sparring situation raises genuine questions about the quality of his preparation heading into a high-profile card
- The Jackson-Wink anecdotes surrounding Jones and Dolidze add texture to a long-running narrative about the gym's internal power dynamics
- Shields's grappling resistance, if accurate, helps explain why her transition to MMA has not advanced at pace with her striking pedigree
Sunday, June 14, 2026
