Former Jackson Wink general manager Mikhail Lyubimov revealed that Jon Jones once had Roman Dolidze removed from the gym after Dolidze was giving Jones and the team's BJJ black belts trouble in sparring. Lyubimov also disclosed that Josh Hokit's main sparring partner is a welterweight grappler with a losing record, and that head coach Greg Jackson will not be in Hokit's corner at the White House event for personal reasons. Additional details emerged about Jackson Wink's decline, Steve Garcia's elite gym level, and Claressa Shields struggling with wrestling laziness during her MMA stint.
Former Jackson-Wink general manager Mikhail Lyubimov has pulled back the curtain on life inside one of MMA's most storied gyms, revealing a series of candid anecdotes ranging from Jon Jones ejecting a sparring partner to concerns surrounding Josh Hokit's preparation ahead of UFC White House on June 14.
The most striking disclosure centers on heavyweight champion Jon Jones, 38, who carries a 28-1-0 record and remains among the most decorated fighters in the sport's history. According to Lyubimov, Jones personally had Roman Dolidze removed from the Jackson-Wink facility after Dolidze was causing problems in sparring sessions, reportedly giving Jones and the team's BJJ black belts genuine trouble on the mat. Jones, who stands six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach, averages 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes and lands strikes at a 58 percent accuracy clip — making Dolidze's ability to trouble him in grappling a notable talking point.
Dolidze, the Georgian middleweight ranked 12th in his division at 15-5-0, now trains out of Xtreme Couture. Standing six-foot-two with a 76-inch reach, the 37-year-old posts 1.16 takedowns per 15 minutes, and the sparring episode suggests his grappling can be disruptive even against elite opposition.
Lyubimov's other revelations paint a complicated picture for Hokit heading into the White House card. The former GM disclosed that Hokit's primary sparring partner is a welterweight grappler with a losing record — a thin camp by any measure. Compounding matters, head coach Greg Jackson will reportedly be absent from Hokit's corner for personal reasons.
Lyubimov did offer a positive assessment of Steve Garcia, the 34-year-old Jackson-Wink southpaw who goes 19-6-0 and generates an impressive 5.39 significant strikes per minute, describing the New Mexico-based fighter as operating at a true elite gym level. Lyubimov also touched on Claressa Shields' MMA stint at the gym, noting that the decorated boxer showed a tendency toward wrestling laziness during her transition to the sport.
Why it matters
- Jones' reported influence over gym membership raises questions about team dynamics at a historically collaborative facility
- Hokit's sparring and corner situation casts doubt over his readiness for UFC White House
- Jackson-Wink's internal challenges, detailed by a former top executive, suggest the gym's standing among elite MMA programs may be shifting
Sunday, June 14, 2026
