Bogdan Guskov has expressed interest in fighting Paulo Costa. However, Ivo Baranievski, a middleweight contender, claims he agreed to fight Guskov but that Guskov declined the matchup. Baranievski, who calls himself a Russian fighter raised in Uzbekistan, stated he is ready to share the cage anytime and promised to make Guskov swallow his words. Corner coach Gor Azizyan weighed in, suggesting Baranievski became too confident after defeating Kopylov and Murzakanov and needs to be brought down. Azizyan added that if Guskov does not accept the fight, Baranievski should stop talking about Russian topics. The post invites fans to vote on whether they would like to see this matchup.
Bogdan Guskov has thrown out a call for a fight with Paulo Costa, but the challenge has been overshadowed by a competing claim from middleweight contender Ivo Baranievski, who says he already offered Guskov a bout — and that Guskov turned it down.
Guskov, nicknamed "Czarevitch," is a 33-year-old light heavyweight from Uzbekistan competing out of GOR MMA. He holds an 18-3-1 record and sits at number ten in the light heavyweight rankings. Standing six-foot-three with a 76-inch reach, Guskov is a submission-oriented fighter who averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, though he rarely looks for takedowns. His striking output sits at 4.17 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate.
Costa, the Brazilian veteran nicknamed "The Eraser," carries a 16-4 record and is ranked 13th at middleweight at 35 years old. He is one of the division's most active pressure strikers, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. A move up to light heavyweight to face Guskov would represent a significant size challenge for Costa, who stands six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach.
The situation grew complicated when Baranievski, who identifies as a Russian fighter raised in Uzbekistan, publicly stated he had agreed to face Guskov only for Guskov to decline. Baranievski vowed to make Guskov answer for his words if they ever share the cage. Corner coach Gor Azizyan added a pointed rebuke, suggesting Baranievski had grown overconfident following recent wins over Kopylov and Murzakanov and needed to be humbled. Azizyan also warned that if Guskov refuses the fight, Baranievski should drop commentary on Russian-related topics altogether.
Why it matters
- Guskov's call-out targets a fighter in a different division, raising questions about a potential weight-class crossover
- Baranievski's claim that Guskov dodged a fight undercuts the call-out's credibility
- Azizyan's public criticism of Baranievski adds an unusual internal dimension to what began as a straightforward challenge
