Light heavyweight Bogdan Guskov certainly made a statement in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 91, and the Uzbek warrior is already eyeing his next show.
Both the main and co-main events of UFC Vegas 91 last night ended in violent knockout wins for the underdog, one of which being light heavyweight contender Bogdan Guskov likely cementing his place amongst the top 15 of the 205lb division.
Bogdan Guskov earns brutal second-round KO at UFC Vegas 91
Despite losing the opening round on all three judges’ scorecards, light heavyweight powerhouse Bogdan Guskov made good on his promise to bring the action as he delivered a brutal second-round knockout to Ryan ‘Superman’ Spann.
Not only is the knockout likely to be enough for Guskov to take Spann’s #15 ranking on Tuesday’s update, but the finish also landed him a sweet extra $50,000 bonus; performance of the night bonuses for UFC Vegas 91 also went to Alex Perez, Uros Medic, and Jhonata Diniz.
Guskov wants three fights this year as he eyes Top 15 light heavyweight ranking
Speaking via UFC News, Guskov celebrated the fact that he’ll be the first UFC fighter from Uzbekistan to enter the rankings; having dispatched the #15 ranked light heavyweight in such a vicious fashion.
“I’m feeling good, no serious drama and a big knockout [got me] a bonus, I’m happy. This is different, now I am the first fighter from Uzbekistan to make it to the top – we come like this [and] like this we’re going to the top – we don’t match point, we don’t like grappling much, we come to deliver a knockout.”
“If I go into the top 15, I will be the first fighter from Uzbekistan to go to the top, this is history, it’s my history – I’m very, very happy in this moment,” said Guskov, who improves his professional record to 16-3.
When asked when he’d like a return to the octagon, and if there was a name in mind for who he could fight next, the 31-year-old refused to call out anyone specific; instead arguing that he’ll climb into the light heavyweight title picture with a more consistent path:
“Let’s see, let’s see brother – I’m fresh blood, I wait for the good fights for me, and my management will give me a good fight.”
“I fight three times [this year], three fighters, top 10. Now I want a little bit of recovery and rest, and after with new power I want to keep walking to the top, go to the title maybe.”
Ultimately, ‘Czarevitch’ admitted that no matter who is put in front of him next, he’s coming for a brutal finish either way: “I want big show every time, I do not love the boring fights, no grappling much, no point match – I love it, I love the blood and show.”
Bogdan is hopeful that the UFC holds an event in Uzbekistan
When asked by media members at the post-fight press conference where he would like to fight next, Guskov simply stated: “Give me location, give me location and we go; Europe, Africa, America, it doesn’t matter.”
That being said, the Uzbek powerhouse did note that he hopes that the UFC one day holds an event in his native homeland, especially given that there are a few countrymen like himself near the rankings:
“Every time I think about this, one day I hope the UFC to Tashkent [the capital] of Uzbekistan, really, I want to fight on this. We have three fighters from Uzbekistan and maybe we make good show because from Uzbekistan a lot of fans and very strong fans that love this.”
“I want to give this show in the life – not only on TV because a lot of guys watch TV when it’s very late now [back home], but a lot of people are watching me; if we were to open my social media now, wow.”
One of those Uzbek fighters who is also on a path towards a Top 15 spot is Nursulton Ruziboev, who after a controversial TKO win at UFC Atlantic City, is set to co-headline an upcoming Fight Night card against Joaquin Buckley.
That card will be held at the Enterprise Center in St Louis, Missouri, on May 11 with the headlining attraction being KO king Derrick Lewis facing Brazilian submission specialist Rodrigo Nascimento.