The UFC has officially offered Ivo Baraniewski a short-notice fight against Bogdan Guskov as a replacement for the injured Jan Blachowicz. This information was confirmed by Baraniewski's manager, Artur Gwozd. Baraniewski is a Polish fighter who could step in on relatively short notice for the UFC 328 card. The offer represents an opportunity for Baraniewski to compete at a higher level on a major UFC event.
The UFC has offered light heavyweight Iwo Baraniewski a short-notice replacement bout against Bogdan Guskov on the UFC 328 card, scheduled for May 9, 2026. The matchup emerged after ranked contender Jan Blachowicz was forced out of his original booking due to injury. Baraniewski's manager, Artur Gwozd, confirmed the offer.
Blachowicz, the 43-year-old Polish veteran ranked fifth in the light heavyweight division, carries a professional record of 29-11-2. Standing six-foot-two with a 78-inch reach, he lands 3.44 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy and averages 1.03 takedowns per 15 minutes. His withdrawal created the opening for a fellow Pole to step into the spotlight.
Baraniewski, just 27 years old, enters this potential assignment with a perfect 8-0-0 record and an eye-catching striking profile. The Orthodox-stance fighter stands six feet tall with a 73-inch reach and has posted a remarkable 15.77 significant strikes landed per minute at 70 percent accuracy. He has yet to record an official takedown in the UFC database and carries no submission attempts, suggesting a primarily striking-based approach.
His potential opponent, Bogdan Guskov, brings considerably more high-level experience to the matchup. The Uzbekistan-born "Czarevitch," ranked tenth in the light heavyweight division, holds an 18-3-1 record and fights out of GOR MMA. At 33, the six-foot-three Guskov sports a 76-inch reach and lands 4.17 significant strikes per minute at an efficient 55 percent accuracy. He averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes despite recording zero takedowns, indicating a grappling threat that prefers to work off his back or in the clinch.
Why it matters
- Baraniewski would step into a UFC 328 main card slot on short notice against a ranked top-ten opponent
- A win over Guskov would instantly establish the unbeaten Pole as a divisional prospect to watch
- The stylistic contrast — Baraniewski's high-volume striking versus Guskov's submission threat — sets up an intriguing stand-up versus grappling dynamic
Saturday, May 9, 2026
