Bogdan Guskov expressed interest in fighting Paulo Costa, while Ivo Baranyevski claimed he accepted a bout with Guskov but that Guskov declined the matchup. Guskov, a Russian fighter raised in Uzbekistan, stated he is ready to share the octagon anytime. Gor Azizyan criticized Guskov, saying he became vocal after defeating Kopylov and Azamat, and suggested his "wings should be clipped" if he refuses to accept the fight with Baranyevski or stops talking about Russian fighters. The callout of Costa represents a step up in competition for Guskov.
Bogdan Guskov has thrown his name into the conversation around Paulo Costa while simultaneously distancing himself from a proposed bout with Ivo Baranyevski, setting off a wave of criticism from within his own regional MMA circle.
Guskov, ranked tenth at light heavyweight with an 18-3-1 record, has stated he is ready to share the octagon anytime — but apparently on his own terms. The 33-year-old, who fights out of GOR MMA and represents Uzbekistan, stands six-foot-three with a 76-inch reach and has built his recent momentum on wins over Kopylov and Azamat. He lands 4.17 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy and averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, painting the picture of a well-rounded threat in the 205-pound division.
The man Guskov is chasing, Paulo Costa, competes at middleweight — a full division below — which makes the callout an unusual one. Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," carries a 16-4-0 record and is ranked thirteenth in his division. The 35-year-old Brazilian is one of the sport's most aggressive pressure strikers, landing an exceptional 6.26 significant strikes per minute at 58 percent accuracy. A matchup between the two would require one fighter to move divisions.
The situation became more complicated when Baranyevski claimed he had accepted a fight with Guskov, only for Guskov to turn it down. That prompted Gor Azizyan to publicly call out Guskov, arguing that his outspoken attitude emerged only after recent wins and suggesting his wings should be clipped if he continues to dodge available opponents while calling out bigger names.
Why it matters
- Guskov targeting Costa signals ambition, but a cross-divisional fight faces significant logistical hurdles
- Rejecting Baranyevski while issuing callouts risks damaging Guskov's standing among regional MMA figures
- A top-ten light heavyweight aligning with a top-fifteen middleweight is an unconventional path that the UFC would need to sanction
