Bogdan Guskov has expressed interest in fighting Paulo Costa in the octagon. According to Ivo Baranyevski, he agreed to fight Guskov, but Guskov rejected the bout. Guskov responded by saying he is ready to share the cage anytime, calling himself a Russian guy who grew up in Uzbekistan. His coach Gor Azizyan suggested that if Baranyevski doesn't accept a fight with Guskov, he should stop talking about the "Russian theme," noting that Baranyevski has beaten Kopylov and Adesanya but needs to be brought down. The post questions whether fans want to see this matchup.
Bogdan Guskov has publicly called out Paulo Costa and pushed back against claims from Ivo Baranyevski that Guskov turned down a fight with him.
Guskov, who fights out of GOR MMA and identifies himself as a Russian who grew up in Uzbekistan, made clear he is willing to share the cage with anyone. The thirty-three-year-old light heavyweight holds an 18-3-1 record and sits at number ten in his division. Standing six-foot-three with a 76-inch reach, "Czarevitch" averages 4.17 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy and adds pressure on the ground with 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Costa, ranked thirteenth at middleweight, carries a 16-4-0 record and would be moving up in weight if the matchup were to happen. The Brazilian, now thirty-five, is one of the sport's most aggressive pressure fighters, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a sharp 58 percent accuracy. The six-foot-one, 183-centimeter striker out of Team Borracha rarely looks for takedowns, averaging just 0.32 per 15 minutes.
Adding another layer to the story, Baranyevski claimed he had agreed to fight Guskov but that Guskov declined. Guskov denied this, stating his readiness to compete at any time. Guskov's coach Gor Azizyan weighed in as well, suggesting that if Baranyevski — who has wins over Kopylov and Adesanya — is unwilling to accept a fight with Guskov, he should stop invoking the "Russian theme" in his callouts. Azizyan added that Baranyevski needs to be brought down a level.
Why it matters
- Guskov is a top-ten light heavyweight looking to raise his profile with a high-visibility opponent
- Costa's potential move to 205 pounds would be a significant divisional shift worth watching
- The Baranyevski dispute adds public pressure that could force one of these bouts into serious negotiation
