At UFC 323 held in Las Vegas, the fight between Uzbekistan’s Bogdan Guskov and Poland’s Jan Blachowicz ended in a draw by majority decision of the judges. The decisive moment of the bout came at the end of the third round with a knockdown by Blachowicz.
Guskov entered the fight with an impressive record of four consecutive victories achieved before the time limit. Over the past two years, he had rebounded from a loss to Volkan Oezdemir, scoring early wins against opponents such as Zak Pauga, Ryan Spann, Billy Elekana, and Nikita Krylov.
These successes paved the way for him to face the most prestigious opponent of his career. Jan Blachowicz, the former UFC light heavyweight champion, stepped into the octagon as a seasoned fighter.
Despite being 42 years old, Blachowicz still demonstrates a high level of versatile technique and tactical discipline. However, he had not won a fight since 2022, drawing against Magomed Ankalaev in a title fight and losing by points to Alex Pereira and Carlos Ulberg.
The first round of the fight began cautiously. Both fighters moved actively, using feints and focusing on striking the legs.
Guskov aimed to maintain distance, while Blachowicz controlled the center of the octagon and found success with low kicks and jabs. Thanks to precise strikes and initiative, the first round likely went in favor of the Polish fighter.
In the second round, the dynamics of the fight shifted. Guskov adopted a more aggressive approach and knocked Blachowicz down with a right-hand strike early in the round.
Following this, he dominated in ground control with elbow strikes, but Blachowicz defended skillfully, staying composed and enduring until the end of the round despite the cuts on his face and the mounting pressure from his opponent. The third round became the decisive phase of the bout.
Guskov moved with greater speed, landing more counterstrikes on Blachowicz. However, the experienced fighter continued to seek his opportunities. At the end of the round, the Polish veteran delivered a precise strike, knocking his opponent down - a pivotal moment in the fight.
After three rounds, the judges recorded a draw. While this marked Guskov’s first winless result in the past two years, such a competitive outcome against a former champion could be regarded as a significant milestone in his career.
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