Bogdan Guskov has expressed his desire to share the octagon with Paulo Costa. According to Ivo Baranyevski, there appears to be confusion regarding a potential matchup, as Baranyevski claims he agreed to fight Guskov but that Guskov did not accept the bout. Guskov's coach Gor Azizyan weighed in, saying Baranyevski talks too much and needs to be stopped after recent wins over Kopylev and Azamat. Azizyan suggested that if Baranyevski doesn't accept the fight with Guskov, he should stop bringing up Russian opponents. The post included a poll asking if fans want to see the matchup.
Bogdan Guskov has made clear he wants Paulo Costa across from him in the octagon, but the callout comes amid a separate, unresolved dispute over a potential matchup with Ivo Baranyevski.
Guskov, known as "Czarevitch," is ranked tenth in the light heavyweight division and carries an 18-3-1 record. The 33-year-old from Uzbekistan trains out of GOR MMA and stands six-foot-three with a 76-inch reach. He fights out of an orthodox stance and averages 4.17 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, while also posting 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes — a reminder that his threat extends beyond the striking game.
Costa, the Brazilian veteran nicknamed "The Eraser," competes at middleweight and sits thirteenth in that division's rankings with a 16-4-0 record. The 35-year-old is one of the more aggressive volume strikers in the UFC, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a sharp 58 percent accuracy. Costa stands six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach and has virtually no takedown or submission activity in his game, making him a near-pure striking matchup.
The situation around Baranyevski adds a layer of noise. According to Baranyevski, he agreed to fight Guskov but claims Guskov did not accept. Guskov's coach Gor Azizyan pushed back, saying Baranyevski talks too much and needs to be stopped — pointing to Baranyevski's recent wins over Kopylev and Azamat as motivation. Azizyan added that if Baranyevski won't take the Guskov fight, he should stop calling out Russian opponents.
Why it matters
- Guskov is a ranked light heavyweight calling out a ranked middleweight, which raises genuine questions about a potential catchweight or division cross.
- Costa's pure striking style against Guskov's longer, submission-capable game presents an intriguing stylistic contrast.
- The unresolved Baranyevski situation means Guskov's next opponent remains genuinely unclear despite the public callout.
