Bogdan Guskov couldn’t contain his joy after securing a significant victory at UFC Vegas 91, where he defeated No.11-ranked light heavyweight Ryan Spann with a second-round knockout in the co-main event. This win not only earned him a remarkable $50,000 performance bonus but also secured his spot in the top 15 of the light heavyweight division.
Reflecting on the milestone of being the first UFC-ranked fighter from Uzbekistan, Guskov expressed his pride during the post-fight press conference:
“If I go to the top 15, I will be the first fighter from Uzbekistan who [enters the official UFC rankings]. This is history, this is my history. From Uzbekistan, we have two more strong guys and I’m the first. I’m very very happy at this moment, you know.”
Bogdan Guskov Celebrates Historic Win and UFC Ranking
Guskov also shared his camaraderie with fellow Uzbek fighters Nursultan Ruziboev and Makhmud Muradov, highlighting their supportive relationship despite being competitors:
“Both guys are my very good friends. We always support each other. This is competition and I think it’s good.”
After his ascent to the No. 12 spot in the UFC light heavyweight rankings, Guskov acknowledged the need for a well-deserved break before continuing his climb toward a title shot. In his post-fight reflections, Guskov mentioned:
“Over the past year and a half, I have fought three times against three top fighters. Now I want to rest and recover a little bit and afterward I want to get powered up and keep walking to the top to go for the title maybe.”
Guskov’s UFC journey began with a challenging debut against former title challenger Volkan Oezdemir in September 2023, resulting in a first-round submission loss. However, he has since showcased impressive resilience with victories over Zac Pauga and Ryan Spann via TKO, setting his UFC career firmly back on track.