Ivo Baraniewski offered replacement fight against Bogdan Guskov at UFC 328

The UFC has extended a fight offer to Ivo Baraniewski to replace Jan Blachowicz opposite Bogdan Guskov at UFC 328 on May 9th, according to a report confirmed by Baraniewski's manager, Artur Gwozd. No official acceptance has been announced, and the bout should be treated as unconfirmed until both sides sign.

Blachowicz, the fifth-ranked light heavyweight in the world, was forced to withdraw from the scheduled contest. The 43-year-old Pole carries a professional record of 29-11-2 and brings a reach of 78 inches to the cage. A former champion at 205 pounds, he lands 3.44 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy and averages 1.03 takedowns per 15 minutes.

Guskov, known as "Czarevitch," sits ranked tenth in the light heavyweight division with an 18-3-1 record. The 33-year-old from Uzbekistan stands six-foot-three with a 76-inch reach and fights out of GOR MMA. He is an active striker, landing 4.17 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 55 percent accuracy, and generates 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes despite attempting no takedowns.

The potential replacement, Baraniewski, is an unbeaten 27-year-old with a perfect 8-0-0 record. Standing six feet tall with a 73-inch reach, the Polish fighter carries striking numbers that stand out sharply on paper, landing at 70 percent accuracy and averaging 15.77 significant strikes per minute.

Why it matters

• Blachowicz's withdrawal threatens a ranked light heavyweight matchup the UFC is moving quickly to preserve on short notice
• A Baraniewski acceptance would hand the unbeaten prospect a steep step up against a top-ten divisional contender in Guskov
• Both Baraniewski and Guskov are Orthodox strikers with no recorded takedowns per 15 minutes, pointing toward a stand-up-heavy contest if the fight is made