Jan Blachowicz withdraws from UFC 328 with torn meniscus

Jan Blachowicz has been forced out of his scheduled light heavyweight bout against Bogdan Guskov at UFC 328 on May 9th after suffering a torn meniscus, the UFC confirmed on April 18th. The fight has been cancelled entirely, with no replacement opponent announced for Guskov at this time.

Blachowicz, 43, enters the setback ranked fifth in the light heavyweight division with a professional record of 29-11-2. The Polish veteran, who trains out of WCA Fight Team, stands six-foot-two with a 78-inch reach and has built his career around a well-rounded game, averaging 3.44 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy while also contributing 1.03 takedowns per 15 minutes. The torn meniscus is a significant blow for a fighter at his stage of career, and no timeline for his return has been indicated.

Guskov, known as "Czarevitch," is ranked tenth at light heavyweight and carries an 18-3-1 record into this period of uncertainty. The 33-year-old from Uzbekistan fights out of GOR MMA and has shown sharp offensive output, landing 4.17 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 55 percent accuracy. He also contributes 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, though he records no takedowns. Missing out on a matchup against a ranked opponent five spots above him represents a meaningful lost opportunity.

Why it matters

• Blachowicz's withdrawal removes a top-five versus top-ten matchup that carried real divisional weight at light heavyweight.
• Guskov loses a chance to leap inside the top five with a high-profile win over an established former champion.
• The cancellation leaves a gap on the UFC 328 card, and with no replacement named, Guskov's position on the event remains unclear.
• Blachowicz's age and the severity of a meniscus tear raise questions about his availability for the remainder of 2026.