Bogdan Guskov has expressed interest in fighting Paulo Costa in the octagon. According to Iwo Baraniewski, he agreed to face Guskov, but Bogdan declined the bout. Guskov, who identifies as a Russian who grew up in Uzbekistan, says he is ready to fight anyone at any time. Gor Azizyan commented that Baraniewski started talking after beating Sergey Kopylov and Azamat Muradov, suggesting Baraniewski needs to be brought down a peg. Azizyan added that if Baraniewski doesn't accept a fight with Bogdan, he should stop mentioning Russian themes. The post asks fans if they would like to see this matchup.
Light heavyweight contender Bogdan Guskov has publicly called out middleweight veteran Paulo Costa while also clashing with undefeated prospect Iwo Baraniewski over a disputed fight offer.
Guskov, who carries an 18-3-1 record and sits ranked tenth in the UFC light heavyweight division, is a 33-year-old orthodox fighter representing Uzbekistan out of GOR MMA. Standing six-foot-three with a 76-inch reach, "Czarevitch" lands 4.17 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy and averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him a well-rounded threat at 205 pounds. He has stated he is prepared to fight anyone at any time.
Costa, ranked thirteenth at middleweight, is a 35-year-old Brazilian with a 16-4-0 record who competes out of Team Borracha. Known for his aggressive output, "The Eraser" lands an eye-catching 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy, operating out of an orthodox stance at six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach.
The situation is further complicated by a dispute involving Baraniewski, an undefeated 27-year-old prospect who stands 8-0-0. Baraniewski claims he accepted a fight with Guskov, while Guskov's camp says it was Baraniewski who turned down the bout. Gor Azizyan, associated with Guskov's GOR MMA team, weighed in pointedly, suggesting Baraniewski became vocal only after wins over Sergey Kopylov and Azamat Muradov, and that he needs to be humbled. Azizyan also stated that if Baraniewski will not accept the fight with Bogdan, he should avoid invoking Russian themes in his public comments.
Why it matters
- Guskov is a ranked light heavyweight calling out a ranked middleweight, which would require a weight-class move from one or both fighters
- The dispute with Baraniewski adds a separate, unresolved fight negotiation to the story, with both sides offering contradictory accounts
- Baraniewski's perfect 8-0-0 record and remarkable 70 percent striking accuracy at 15.77 significant strikes per minute make him a credible name despite his prospect status
