Bogdan Guskov has expressed interest in fighting Paulo Costa, calling him out publicly. According to Ivo Baranieviski, he agreed to face Guskov but claims Bogdan declined the matchup. Guskov positioned himself as ready to fight anyone, identifying as a Russian fighter raised in Uzbekistan. Gor Azizyan supported Guskov's callout of Costa, suggesting Guskov should stop talking about Russian opponents if he won't accept fights. The situation highlights ongoing matchmaking negotiations and tensions in the middleweight division.
Bogdan Guskov has publicly called out Paulo Costa, angling for a cross-divisional matchup while finding himself at the center of a disputed matchmaking situation involving Ivo Baranieviski.
Guskov, known as "Czarevitch," competes at light heavyweight and currently sits ranked tenth in the division with an 18-3-1 record. The 33-year-old, who represents Uzbekistan and trains out of GOR MMA, stands six-foot-three with a 76-inch reach. He generates 4.17 significant strikes per minute with 55 percent accuracy and adds a submission threat, averaging 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes. According to Baranieviski, the two had agreed to meet inside the cage, but Guskov ultimately declined that fight — a claim that drew criticism from GOR MMA's Gor Azizyan, who suggested Guskov should stop targeting Russian opponents if he is unwilling to accept those bouts.
Costa, nicknamed "The Eraser," is a middleweights ranked thirteenth in his division at 16-4-0. The 35-year-old Brazilian orthodox striker is one of the more prolific volume fighters in the 185-pound class, landing 6.26 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 58 percent accuracy. He stands six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach and carries almost no grappling offense, averaging just 0.32 takedowns per 15 minutes and zero submission attempts.
Why it matters
- A Guskov-Costa fight would cross divisional lines, with Guskov moving down from light heavyweight to middleweight or Costa stepping up.
- Guskov's refusal of the Baranieviski matchup raises questions about his matchmaking position despite the public callout posture.
- Costa's elite striking volume against Guskov's submission game and size advantage creates a legitimate stylistic contrast worth tracking.
