Former Jackson Wink general manager Mikhail Lyubimov shared a series of revelations about the gym's past and present, including that Josh Hakit's primary sparring partner is a welterweight grappler with a losing record and that Greg Jackson will not corner Hakit at the White House event for political reasons. Lyubimov also disclosed that Jon Jones once forced Roman Dolidze out of the gym after Dolidze was giving trouble to Jones and his BJJ coaches, and that Cub Swanson left Jackson Wink permanently after Arman Ospanov broke his ribs with a spinning kick. Additional details included Claressa Shields' reluctance to train wrestling as a key reason her MMA career stalled, and high praise for Steve Garcia's sparring level inside the gym.
Former Jackson Wink general manager Mikhail Lyubimov has gone public with a string of behind-the-scenes revelations about the renowned New Mexico gym, touching on fighter departures, internal politics, and training arrangements ahead of UFC White House on June 14.
Among the more eye-catching disclosures was the setup surrounding Josh Hakit's fight preparation. Lyubimov revealed that Hakit's primary sparring partner is a welterweight grappler carrying a losing record, raising questions about the quality of opposition he is sharpening his skills against. He also said that longtime head coach Greg Jackson will not be in Hakit's corner at the White House event, citing political reasons tied to the occasion.
Lyubimov also shed light on a notable episode involving Jon Jones. The heavyweight champion, who stands six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach and carries a 28-1-0 professional record, reportedly forced Roman Dolidze out of Jackson Wink after Dolidze created friction with Jones and his Brazilian jiu-jitsu coaches. Dolidze, a 37-year-old Georgian middleweight ranked 12th in his division with a 15-5-0 record, now trains out of Xtreme Couture.
Another departure discussed was Cub Swanson's exit from the gym. Lyubimov claimed Swanson left Jackson Wink permanently after Arman Ospanov caught him with a spinning kick that broke his ribs during a sparring session.
On the women's side, Lyubimov pointed to Claressa Shields' reluctance to commit to wrestling training as a central reason her MMA career failed to gain traction. He also offered strong praise for Steve Garcia's sparring quality inside the gym.
Why it matters
- Greg Jackson's absence from Hakit's corner removes one of the sport's most experienced strategists from his team for a high-profile event
- The Jones-Dolidze gym story adds texture to the political dynamics inside one of MMA's most storied training camps
- Swanson's departure and the Shields wrestling detail hint at deeper structural issues around athlete retention and development at Jackson Wink
Sunday, June 14, 2026
