Former Jackson-Wink general manager Mikhail Lyubimov has shared a series of behind-the-scenes revelations about the gym's fighters. Josh Hakazit's primary sparring partner is a welterweight grappler with a losing record, and Greg Jackson will not be in his corner at the White House event due to political differences with the venue's host. Jon Jones reportedly had no memory of sparring with Jiří Procházka, Vagab Vagabov, or Modesta Bukauskas despite handling them all in the gym, and he once had Roman Dolidze removed from the team after the Georgian made life difficult for Jones and his BJJ coaches. Additional notes include Steve Garcia outclassing Andre Fili on the feet in sparring, Cub Swanson permanently leaving the gym after Arman Ospanov broke his ribs, and Claressa Shields struggling in MMA due to a lack of commitment to wrestling despite dominating everyone on the feet.
A string of insider revelations from former Jackson-Wink general manager Mikhail Lyubimov has pulled back the curtain on the Albuquerque gym's inner workings, touching on fighters ranging from Jon Jones to Claressa Shields.
Among the more striking disclosures is the sparring setup for Josh Hakazit ahead of his bout at UFC White House on June 14. According to Lyubimov, Hakazit's primary sparring partner is a welterweight grappler who carries a losing record — a detail likely to raise eyebrows about the quality of his preparation. Separately, head coach Greg Jackson will not be working Hakazit's corner at the event due to political disagreements with the occasion's host.
The anecdotes surrounding Jon Jones are perhaps the most vivid. The 38-year-old heavyweight, who holds a 28-1-0 record and stands six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach, reportedly had zero recollection of sparring with Jiří Procházka, Vagab Vagabov, or Modesta Bukauskas — despite having handled all three in the gym. Lyubimov also claims Jones had Roman Dolidze removed from the team after the Georgian middleweight, now 15-5-0 and ranked twelfth in his division at Xtreme Couture, made training difficult for Jones and his Brazilian jiu-jitsu coaches.
On the striking side, Jackson-Wink's Steve Garcia is said to have thoroughly outclassed Andre Fili on the feet in sparring sessions. The 34-year-old southpaw carries a 19-6-0 record and lands 5.39 significant strikes per minute, a rate that aligns with Lyubimov's characterization of his stand-up dominance.
Two other details round out the disclosures. Cub Swanson reportedly departed Jackson-Wink permanently after Arman Ospanov broke his ribs in training. And boxing star Claressa Shields, while described as dominant on the feet, has struggled to progress in MMA because of insufficient commitment to wrestling.
Why it matters
- The Hakazit sparring revelation raises questions about preparation quality ahead of a high-profile White House card
- Jackson's absence from the corner removes one of MMA's most experienced coaches from a significant event
- The Jones-Dolidze account sheds light on team dynamics at one of the sport's most storied gyms
Sunday, June 14, 2026
