Polish fighter Ivo Baraniecki has received an official offer from the UFC to replace Jan Blachowicz and face Bogdan Guskov. This information was confirmed by Baraniecki's manager, Artur Gwozd. The bout would take place at UFC 328 on May 9th after Blachowicz withdrew due to a torn meniscus. Baraniecki would be stepping in on relatively short notice to face the Russian fighter. No confirmation has been given yet on whether Baraniecki has accepted the offer.
The UFC has extended a formal offer to Polish light heavyweight Ivo Baraniecki to step in and face Bogdan Guskov at UFC 328 on May 9th, after Jan Blachowicz was forced to withdraw from the contest with a torn meniscus. The development was confirmed by Baraniecki's manager, Artur Gwozd, though Baraniecki has not yet accepted the offer.
Blachowicz, the 43-year-old Polish veteran ranked fifth in the light heavyweight division, holds 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 adds 1.03 takedowns per 15 minutes. His withdrawal leaves a significant hole in what was shaping up to be a meaningful divisional contest, and Baraniecki would be taking the fight on relatively short notice.
His prospective opponent, Bogdan "Czarevitch" Guskov, enters as the tenth-ranked light heavyweight in the world. The 33-year-old from Uzbekistan carries an 18-3-1 record and brings serious offensive output to the octagon, averaging 4.17 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 55 percent accuracy. Standing six-foot-three with a 193-centimeter reach, Guskov also registers 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, though he records no takedowns in that same window.
Why it matters
- Blachowicz's injury removes a top-five light heavyweight from the card, forcing the UFC to scramble with just three weeks to the event.
- A win for Guskov over a short-notice replacement could reinforce his top-ten standing, while an upset victory for Baraniecki would be a major career breakthrough.
- Guskov's high striking volume and submission threat contrast with his complete absence of takedown offense, setting up a tactically interesting style matchup.
- The offer remains pending acceptance, meaning the fight is not yet officially confirmed.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
