Jan Blachowicz vs Bogdan Guskov rematch is happening. The former UFC light heavyweight champion will face Bogdan Guskov again at UFC Belgrade on August 1, settling unfinished business from a fight that ended without a winner. The booking also marks the promotion’s first-ever event in Serbia. This marks the third time these two have been scheduled to fight, after injury delayed their first rematch attempt earlier this year.
What Happened
The UFC confirmed the rematch will headline the light heavyweight portion of UFC Belgrade at Belgrade Arena. Blachowicz and Guskov first met at UFC 323 in December, a fight that ended in a majority draw. One judge scored it for Blachowicz while the other two had it even, after Guskov took two 10-8 rounds in the second frame.
A second meeting was originally booked for UFC 328 in May, but Blachowicz withdrew after tearing his meniscus in training camp. With his knee now healed, the rematch has been rescheduled for August 1.
Key Details
Blachowicz, 43, is currently ranked No. 4 in the light heavyweight division. He has not won a fight since 2022, going 1-3-2 across his last six appearances. That stretch includes losses to Carlos Ulberg, Alex Pereira, and Glover Teixeira, along with draws against Magomed Ankalaev and Guskov.
Guskov, 33, enters ranked No. 10 and arrives with one of the most aggressive finishing records in the division. He had won four straight fights inside the UFC before the draw with Blachowicz, stopping Zac Pauga, Ryan Spann, Billy Elekana, and Nikita Krylov in that stretch. All 18 of his career wins have come by finish, with none going to the judges.
A welterweight matchup between Uros Medic and Daniel Rodriguez will headline UFC Belgrade. The card also features Aleksandar Rakic moving up to heavyweight to face veteran Marcin Tybura. So, it will be an intresting card to feature this fight.
What This Means
This fight matters more than a typical rematch because of where both men rank. A win for Guskov pushes him directly into the title conversation, putting him in range of names like Jiri Prochazka, Ankalaev, and champion Carlos Ulberg. A finish would make that case even stronger, given how rarely he lets fights reach the scorecards.
For Blachowicz, the stakes run the other way. Another result without a win would likely push the former champion further from title contention and deeper into the role of measuring stick for the division’s rising contenders. A win, especially a clear one, keeps his name relevant in a light heavyweight picture that has shuffled significantly over the past year.
Background Context
Blachowicz won the vacant light heavyweight title in 2020 by beating Dominick Reyes, then defended it against Israel Adesanya when the middleweight champion moved up in search of a second belt. He lost the title to Glover Teixeira in October 2021, then later got another crack at the vacant belt following a win over Aleksandar Rakic, only to draw with Ankalaev in that fight.
Guskov joined the UFC later and built his reputation quickly with a finishing streak that caught the division’s attention. The draw with Blachowicz in December was his first fight not to end in a stoppage, making this rematch as much about proving that performance was an outlier as settling the score.
Conclusion
UFC Belgrade now has a light heavyweight rematch with real stakes attached. Blachowicz is fighting to stay relevant in the title picture, while Guskov is fighting to prove his unbeaten finishing streak was no fluke. Whoever wins on August 1 walks away with a real claim on the division’s next move. Guskov has finished 18 of his 18 career wins, a 100% finish rate that makes him one of the most efficient closers in the entire light heavyweight division. Who is going to win this match?
