Bogdan Guskov isn’t changing his all-or-nothing style anytime soon.
Saturday’s UFC Vegas 91 co-main event saw Guskov add to his impressive collection of knockouts with a second-round hammering of Ryan Spann. The fast-rising light heavyweight has now won back-to-back fights by knockout, and none of his 16 pro victories have gone to the scorecards.
Afterward, Guskov told reporters that he expects his fan-friendly style to keep him in the good graces of the UFC matchmakers.
“I think maybe the UFC, give me this chance,” Guskov said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference when asked how soon he might fight for a title. “Big appreciate, big opportunity for me. Thank you for [UFC President Dana White], thank you Mick Maynard, thank you.
“I try, from my side, I want to show a big show every time. I’m not loving boring fights. No grappling match, no point match. I love blood and the show.”
Spann almost didn’t let Guskov show off his exciting style. The first round of their fight saw Spann wrestle Guskov against the fence, nail him with a couple of low blows, and pummel him on the ground with strikes. There almost wasn’t a second round, but Guskov showed enough defense to make it past the five-minute mark.
According to “Czarevitch,” his team expected Spann to start strong and then fade.
“Before the fight, we have a small plan,” Guskov said. “Give the first round for this guy to work, because in the second round, he seemed a little bit tired and [became] a very simple fighter, and finish him in second round. This [was] my goal, my plan [from] my team.”
Spann was No. 14 in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings heading into Saturday’s event and Guskov will likely claim a top-15 spot in the UFC’s official rankings when that list is next revised. If that happens, Guskov will be the first fighter from Uzbekistan to have a number next to his name.
Along with compatriots Nursulton Ruziboev and Makhmud Muradov, Guskov is part of a trio of talented Uzbek fighters that he believes can convince the UFC to bring a show to their home country.
“One day, I hope the UFC comes to Tashkent, from Uzbekistan,” Guskov said. “Really, I want to fight [there]. We have three fighters from Uzbekistan and maybe we make a good show. Because from Uzbekistan, a lot of fans, and very strong fans, I love them. I want to give a show live, not only TV, because a lot of guys watch TV [in another time zone]. It’s very late now [in Uzbekistan], but a lot of people watching me. If we open my social media now, oy oy oy.”
