Bogdan Guskov has expressed interest in fighting Paulo Costa, stating he would like to share the Octagon with the Brazilian middleweight. However, Ivo Baraniewska claims that he accepted a fight with Guskov, but Guskov declined the matchup. Guskov's team, including Gor Azizyan, responded by suggesting that Guskov should be the one to 'clip Costa's wings,' noting that Costa has become more vocal after recent wins against Azamat Murzakanov and Caio Borralho. Azizyan also suggested that if Guskov doesn't accept the fight with Costa, he should stop talking about Russian fighters. The post concludes with a poll asking fans if they would like to see the fight between Guskov and Costa.
Bogdan Guskov has publicly called out Paulo Costa, expressing his desire to fight the Brazilian middleweight, while a separate dispute has emerged over a claimed declined matchup involving Polish fighter Ivo Baraniewska.
Costa, ranked 13th in the UFC middleweight division, carries a 16-4 record and has drawn renewed attention following recent victories over light heavyweight Azamat Murzakanov and fourth-ranked middleweight contender Caio Borralho. The 35-year-old Brazilian stands six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach and is one of the division's most aggressive pressure fighters, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate. Those back-to-back wins have coincided with Costa becoming more outspoken, a point not lost on those in Guskov's camp.
Guskov's representative Gor Azizyan weighed in publicly, suggesting Guskov is the right man to "clip Costa's wings" and framing the callout as a natural response to Costa's growing confidence. Azizyan also addressed the Baraniewska situation directly, indicating that if Guskov is unwilling to accept that fight, he should refrain from calling out Russian fighters altogether.
Baraniewska's camp claims they accepted a proposed bout with Guskov, only for Guskov's side to turn it down. No official response from Guskov's team disputing that version of events was included in the exchange.
Why it matters
- Costa's wins over Borralho and Murzakanov have rebuilt his middleweight relevance, making a fight with a ranked contender like Guskov a credible next step
- The Baraniewska dispute raises questions about Guskov's willingness to take fights at his current level before targeting bigger names
- A Costa matchup would pit one of the division's highest-volume strikers against a fighter whose team believes he is ready for that style challenge
