Jan Blachowicz tears meniscus, UFC 328 bout with Guskov canceled

A torn meniscus has forced Jan Blachowicz out of his scheduled light heavyweight clash with Bogdan Guskov at UFC 328 on May 9, the promotion confirmed on April 18. The bout is officially off the card, leaving Guskov without an opponent and the event's lineup in need of reshaping.

Blachowicz, 43, is a former UFC light heavyweight champion representing Poland out of WCA Fight Team. He carries a professional record of 29-11-2 and is currently ranked fifth in the division. Standing six-foot-two with a 78-inch reach, the orthodox striker lands 3.44 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy and adds a respectable 1.03 takedowns per 15 minutes. No timetable for his return has been announced following the meniscus injury.

Guskov, known as "Czarevitch," enters the situation holding an 18-3-1 record and sitting tenth in the light heavyweight rankings. The 33-year-old from Uzbekistan trains out of GOR MMA and stands six-foot-three with a 193-centimeter reach. He is notably active offensively, averaging 4.17 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, and generates submission attempts at a rate of 1.1 per 15 minutes. Whether he receives a replacement opponent or is pulled from UFC 328 entirely remains to be determined.

Why it matters

• Blachowicz, ranked fifth, loses a chance to push toward a potential title eliminator, and his recovery timeline is unknown at age 43.
• Guskov, ranked tenth, is denied a marquee opportunity against a former champion that could have significantly boosted his divisional standing.
• The cancellation removes a high-profile light heavyweight matchup from a card that now has a notable gap to fill ahead of its May 9 date.