Ivo Baraniewski offered Blachowicz replacement vs Guskov

Ivo Baraniewski has received an official UFC offer to step in as a last-minute replacement for Jan Blachowicz against Bogdan Guskov at UFC 328, scheduled for May 9, 2026. The offer was confirmed by Baraniewski's manager, Artur Gwozd, though as of now Baraniewski has not publicly accepted the bout and it remains unclear whether the fight will stay on the UFC 328 card.

Blachowicz, 43, was forced to withdraw from the contest due to injury. The Polish veteran holds a 29-11-2 record and sits at number five in the light heavyweight rankings. Standing six-foot-two with a 78-inch reach, the southpaw-turned-orthodox striker lands 3.44 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy and has averaged 1.03 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career.

His scheduled opponent, Bogdan "Czarevitch" Guskov, is ranked tenth in the light heavyweight division with an 18-3-1 record. The 33-year-old from Uzbekistan is a physically imposing presence at six-foot-three with a 76-inch reach, and he produces one of the higher output rates in the division at 4.17 significant strikes per minute with an impressive 55 percent accuracy. He also averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.

Baraniewski, the potential replacement, is an undefeated 27-year-old standing at six feet with a 73-inch reach. His 8-0-0 record is backed by striking numbers that stand out even at first glance — he lands 15.77 significant strikes per minute at 70 percent accuracy, though it is worth noting those numbers come from outside the UFC level.

Why it matters

• Baraniewski would be stepping up on short notice against a ranked UFC light heavyweight, a significant jump in competition
• Guskov is seeking a top-five opponent to boost his divisional standing; a replacement opponent could affect the stakes of the matchup
• A style clash is in play, with Guskov's active ground game meeting an opponent who brings relentless striking volume