Ivo Baraniewski offered replacement fight against Bogdan Guskov at UFC 328

Ivo Baraniewski has received an official offer from the UFC to step in and face Bogdan Guskov at UFC 328 on May 9, replacing Jan Blachowicz, who withdrew from the scheduled rematch due to a meniscus injury. The offer was confirmed by Baraniewski's manager, Artur Gwozd, with the promotion moving quickly to preserve the light heavyweight bout on relatively short notice.

Baraniewski enters the picture as an unbeaten prospect, carrying a perfect 8-0-0 record at 27 years old. Standing six feet tall with a 73-inch reach, the Orthodox striker posted a remarkable 70 percent striking accuracy and lands an eye-catching 15.77 significant strikes per minute, numbers that suggest an aggressive, high-output style.

Guskov, nicknamed Czarevitch, is the established name in this matchup. The 33-year-old from Uzbekistan holds an 18-3-1 record and sits ranked tenth in the light heavyweight division. Standing six-foot-three with a 76-inch reach, he lands 4.17 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy and averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a credible finisher on the feet and on the ground.

Blachowicz, ranked fifth at light heavyweight, was the original opponent. The 43-year-old Polish veteran carries a 29-11-2 record and a six-foot-two frame with a 78-inch reach, but his meniscus injury has removed him from the card entirely.

Why it matters

• Guskov is ranked tenth at light heavyweight and a win over a replacement opponent still keeps him in divisional contention
• Baraniewski would be making a significant step up in competition on short notice, facing a ranked fighter for the first time
• The stylistic contrast between Baraniewski's high-volume striking and Guskov's submission threat adds intrigue to the potential matchup