Bogdan Guskov has expressed interest in fighting Paulo Costa. According to Ivo Baraniewski's coach, Baraniewski accepted a fight with Guskov, but Guskov declined the matchup. Guskov, described as a Russian who grew up in Uzbekistan, stated he is ready to enter the cage at any time. Gor Azizyan criticized Baraniewski for talking after beating Anatoly Kopylov and Abus Magomedov, suggesting Baraniewski should accept a fight with Guskov or stop addressing Russian fighters. The post reflects ongoing verbal exchanges in the light heavyweight division.
Bogdan Guskov has publicly called for a fight with Paulo Costa while pushing back against claims that he turned down a matchup with Ivo Baraniewski, adding fresh fuel to a simmering verbal dispute in the light heavyweight division.
Guskov, known as "Czarevitch," holds a record of 18-3-1 and sits ranked tenth in the UFC light heavyweight division. The 33-year-old, who grew up in Uzbekistan and trains out of GOR MMA, stands six-foot-three with a 76-inch reach. He lands 4.17 significant strikes per minute at a 55 percent accuracy rate and averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded threat on the feet and on the mat.
The fighter he is calling out, Paulo Costa, competes at middleweight, where he is currently ranked thirteenth. The Brazilian, nicknamed "The Eraser," is 35 years old and carries a 16-4 record. At six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach, Costa is one of the most aggressive strikers in the sport, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a striking accuracy of 58 percent.
The dispute with Baraniewski's camp stems from comments made by coach Gor Azizyan, who claimed Baraniewski accepted a fight with Guskov only for Guskov to decline. Guskov denied the claim and stated he is ready to compete at any time. Azizyan also criticized Baraniewski for making noise in the division after back-to-back wins over Anatoly Kopylov and Abus Magomedov, suggesting Baraniewski either accept the fight with Guskov or stop calling out Russian fighters.
Why it matters
- Guskov is ranked tenth at light heavyweight, so a high-profile win could push him toward title contention
- A potential crossover callout of Costa adds an unusual middleweight-versus-light-heavyweight dimension to the story
- The Baraniewski dispute keeps pressure on matchmakers to resolve the standoff between two rising contenders
