Jan Blachowicz has announced he is out of his scheduled rematch against Bogdan Guskov at UFC 328 on May 9th due to a torn meniscus injury. The 43-year-old Polish fighter stated this setback is not the end of his career, insisting he will return to finish on his own terms. The injury forces the cancellation of what would have been a highly anticipated rematch between the two light heavyweights. Blachowicz made the announcement through his social media channels. No replacement opponent has been officially confirmed yet, though there are reports of the UFC reaching out to potential replacements.
Jan Blachowicz has been forced out of his scheduled rematch against Bogdan Guskov at UFC 328 on May 9th after suffering a torn meniscus, the Polish veteran announced via social media on April 18th.
Blachowicz, 43, carries a professional record of 29-11-2 and is currently ranked fifth in the light heavyweight division. The six-foot-two Warsaw native trains out of WCA Fight Team and has built his career around a balanced orthodox game, averaging 3.44 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy while adding 1.03 takedowns per 15 minutes. In announcing the injury, he was clear that this setback does not signal the end of his fighting career, stating he intends to return and finish on his own terms.
His now-shelved opponent, Bogdan "Czarevitch" Guskov, is ranked tenth in the same division and enters this period of uncertainty on the back of what would have been a high-profile second meeting. The 33-year-old from Uzbekistan, representing GOR MMA, stands six-foot-three with a 76-inch reach and has shown sharp offensive output, landing 4.17 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. He also adds a submission threat, averaging 1.1 attempts per 15 minutes, while recording no takedowns per 15 minutes.
No replacement opponent for Guskov has been officially confirmed, though reports indicate the UFC has begun reaching out to potential alternatives ahead of the May 9th card.
Why it matters
- Blachowicz's injury removes a ranked fifth-versus-tenth light heavyweight clash that carried clear top-five implications
- The cancellation leaves Guskov without an opponent less than three weeks from the event, creating urgency for the UFC to find a replacement
- A ten-year age gap and contrasting styles — Blachowicz's grappling-integrated approach versus Guskov's high-volume striking — had made the rematch a compelling divisional matchup
Saturday, May 9, 2026
