Jan Blachowicz withdraws from UFC 328 rematch due to torn meniscus

Jan Blachowicz has been forced out of his scheduled light heavyweight rematch against Bogdan Guskov at UFC 328 on May 9, after the Polish veteran announced he is dealing with a torn meniscus. The injury cancels the bout entirely, with no replacement opponent for Guskov named at this time.

Blachowicz, 43, carries a professional record of 29-11-2 and is currently ranked fifth in the light heavyweight division. Fighting out of Poland and representing WCA Fight Team, the former champion stands 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, making him a well-rounded threat at 205 pounds. No details on his recovery timeline or a potential return date have been provided.

Guskov, known as "Czarevitch," now finds himself without an opponent heading into the May card. The 33-year-old from Uzbekistan holds an 18-3-1 record and sits at number ten in the divisional rankings with GOR MMA. Standing six-foot-three with a 193 cm reach, he is a high-output striker who lands 4.17 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 55 percent accuracy, and also averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes despite recording zero takedowns per 15 minutes.

Why it matters

• Blachowicz's torn meniscus removes a top-five light heavyweight from the UFC 328 card entirely
• Guskov loses a high-profile opportunity to climb the rankings from his current tenth-place position
• The division loses a rematch that carried meaningful seeding implications, with a 12-spot gap between the two fighters' rankings
• The injury raises questions about Blachowicz's availability given his age and the typically lengthy recovery associated with meniscus surgery