Bogdan Guskov has publicly stated he wants to fight Paulo Costa. However, according to Ivo Baraniewski, he agreed to a fight with Guskov but Bogdan did not accept the matchup. Baraniewski claims he is a Russian fighter who grew up in Uzbekistan and is ready to fight anytime, vowing to make Guskov eat his words. Guskov's coach, Gor Azizyan, suggested that Baraniewski has been talking too much after victories over Kopylov and Murzakanov, and should either accept the Guskov fight or stop mentioning Russian fighters. The post asks fans if they would like to see this matchup happen.
Bogdan Guskov has publicly called out Paulo Costa, but a separate fighter dispute has quickly overshadowed that request — with unbeaten prospect Iwo Baraniewski accusing the light heavyweight of dodging a fight he had already agreed to.
Guskov, who fights out of GOR MMA and trains under coach Gor Azizyan, holds an 18-3-1 record and is ranked tenth in the UFC light heavyweight division. The 33-year-old from Uzbekistan stands six-foot-three with a 76-inch reach and lands 4.17 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, while also averaging 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes — showing a well-rounded skill set that makes him a credible contender.
Costa, meanwhile, sits at 16-4 and is ranked thirteenth at middleweight despite competing at a different weight class from Guskov. The Brazilian, 35, operates out of an orthodox stance at six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach and lands a prolific 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a sharp 58 percent accuracy rate, making him one of the more dangerous strikers in the sport.
The bigger immediate story, however, centers on Baraniewski. The 27-year-old is undefeated at 8-0 and says he accepted a fight with Guskov that was subsequently turned down on Guskov's side. Baraniewski, who identifies as a Russian fighter who grew up in Uzbekistan, has vowed to make Guskov answer for the snub. His numbers are eye-catching — he lands 15.77 significant strikes per minute at a remarkable 70 percent accuracy, though the level of opposition he has faced should be factored into any assessment of those figures.
Azizyan pushed back on Baraniewski's criticism, suggesting the unbeaten fighter has earned his outspokenness through wins over Kopylov and Murzakanov but should either formally accept the Guskov fight or stop referencing Russian fighters in his callouts.
Why it matters
- Guskov is ranked tenth at light heavyweight and a win over a recognizable name like Costa could push him toward the top five
- Baraniewski's accusation of ducking puts direct reputational pressure on Guskov to either accept or clearly decline the matchup
- A Guskov-Baraniewski fight would pit contrasting styles against each other, with Baraniewski's high-volume striking against Guskov's submission threat
