MMA Junkie has live coverage of UFC 323 with round-by-round analysis of every fight.
Former champion Jan Blachowicz nearly pulled off an incredible comeback against Bogdan Guskov, but after 15 minutes, neither light heavyweight walked away with a victory.
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In the main card opener of UFC 323 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, former champion Blachowicz (29-11-2 MMA, 12-8-2 UFC) took on Guskov (18-3-1 MMA, 4-1-1 UFC) in an entertaining battle. Both fighters had big moments, but the scorecards resulted in a majority draw with two 28-28 scores and one 29-28 card in favor of Blachowicz.
The fight started at a methodical pace as both fighters tried to get their reads without overcommitting in the opening exchanges. Midway through the round, heavier punches began landing for both. First it was Guskov backing up the former champ with a clean strike, but Blachowicz answered a few moments later with a stiff punch at the end of a combination. Blachowicz’s leg kicks were also key throughout the opening frame.
Early in Round 2, Blachowicz was putting his strikes together nicely, but out of nowhere, he was dropped by a hard right hand. Guskov immediately swarmed for the finish, but Blachowicz covered up well, doing just enough to survive the moment to keep referee Jason Herzog away. Guskov kept top position and sliced open a cut with an elbow as he patiently worked his ground and pound until the horn, capping off a dominant round.
Blachowicz came out ready to trade in the final round, but struggled with Guskov’s speed. Midway through the round, Blachowicz’s persistence paid off with a solid combination. Guskov motioned for an eye poke, but the referee didn’t see it. As a result, Blachowicz kept the pressure high, and managed to score a late knockdown.
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When it was all said and done, there would be no winner, thanks to a pair of 10-8 scores in the second round.
The win column continues to elude Blachowicz, who has gone 0-2-2 in his last four outings. His most recent win was an injury TKO win over Aleksandar Rakic in May 2022. Guskov adds the first draw of his professional career. He entered on a four-fight winning streak.
Up-to-the-minute UFC 323 results:
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Jan Blachowicz vs. Bogdan Guskov declared majority draw (29-28, 28-28, 28-28)
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 323: Jan Blachowicz vs. Bogdan Guskov results in draw
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