Bogdan Guskov has expressed interest in fighting Paulo Costa in the octagon. According to Ivo Baraniewski, he accepted a fight with Guskov, but Bogdan declined the matchup. Guskov, describing himself as a Russian guy who grew up in Uzbekistan, stated he's ready to compete anytime and promised to make his opponent "swallow those words." Training partner Gor Azizyan supported Guskov, suggesting Costa needs to be brought down a notch after victories over Kopylova and Azamat. Azizyan added that if Costa doesn't accept a fight with Guskov, he should stop talking about "Russian themes."
Bogdan Guskov has publicly called out middleweight contender Paulo Costa, while a separate dispute over a declined fight with unbeaten prospect Iwo Baraniewski has added fuel to the situation.
Guskov, who holds an 18-3-1 record and sits ranked tenth in the UFC light heavyweight division, made clear he is ready to compete at any time and vowed to make Costa answer for his words. The 33-year-old from Uzbekistan, who trains out of GOR MMA, carries a six-foot-three frame and a 76-inch reach, and averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes — a threat on the ground to complement his orthodox striking game.
Costa, ranked thirteenth at middleweight, brings a 16-4-0 record and some of the most aggressive output in the division. The Brazilian is 35 years old and lands 6.26 significant strikes per minute at a 58 percent accuracy rate, making him one of the more dangerous strikers in the 185-pound class. He stands six-foot-one with a 72-inch reach and trains out of Team Borracha.
Adding a separate wrinkle to the story, Baraniewski — an undefeated 27-year-old prospect at 8-0-0 — claims he accepted a fight with Guskov, only for Guskov's side to decline. Guskov has not publicly addressed that claim directly.
Guskov's training partner Gor Azizyan weighed in, arguing that Costa needs to be taken down a peg following recent wins over fighters connected to the Russian and Central Asian MMA scene. Azizyan went further, suggesting that if Costa is unwilling to fight Guskov, he should stop invoking Russian themes in his commentary.
Why it matters
- Guskov is a top-ten light heavyweight calling out a top-fifteen middleweight, meaning a cross-divisional matchup would be required
- Costa's high striking volume and Guskov's submission threat create a stylistically compelling contrast
- The Baraniewski dispute raises questions about Guskov's matchmaking preferences heading into his next fight
