Jan Blachowicz and Bogdan Guskov will meet at UFC Belgrade on August 1. The light heavyweight bout adds a notable matchup to the European event.
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz will step back into the cage against ranked contender Bogdan Guskov at UFC Belgrade on August 1, with both men looking to strengthen their positions in a competitive 205-pound division.
Blachowicz, 43, enters the fight ranked fifth in the light heavyweight standings, bringing a professional record of 29-11-2 to the matchup. The Polish veteran trains out of WCA Fight Team and fights out of an orthodox stance, standing six-foot-two with a 78-inch reach. He lands 3.44 significant strikes per minute at 49 percent accuracy and adds a takedown threat, averaging 1.03 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career.
Guskov, known as "Czarevitch," is ranked tenth in the division and holds an 18-3-1 record. The 33-year-old from Uzbekistan trains with GOR MMA and stands six-foot-three with a 76-inch reach. He is the more active striker of the two, landing 4.17 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 55 percent accuracy. Guskov brings virtually no takedown threat but compensates with submission activity, averaging 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, suggesting a grappling game built around offense from his back or in transitions.
Why it matters
- A win for Blachowicz, ranked fifth, could push the veteran back toward title contention at 205 pounds.
- Guskov sits at tenth and a victory over a former champion would represent a significant leap in his ranking.
- The styles present an interesting contrast: Blachowicz's takedown-supplemented striking against Guskov's higher-volume punching and submission-oriented ground game.
- The fight gives UFC Belgrade a high-profile light heavyweight contest to anchor the European card.
