Guskov’s dangerous, no question. He’s got big power, clean timing, and if you give him space to settle, he’ll plant and snipe you. But Krylov’s not going to give him that space. From the jump, Krylov’s going to be walking him down, forcing reactions, and mixing it up between the striking and the wrestling. And that’s the key—the wrestling. That’s where Krylov has a clear edge, and he knows it.
You can tell Guskov’s been working on his grappling defense, but it still looks like something he’s trying to think through rather than something that’s instinctual. And against Krylov, there’s no time to think. The pace is just too high. He shoots relentlessly, chains attempts together, scrambles into dominant positions—it’s exhausting to deal with. Guskov might be able to stuff one or two, but it won’t stop Krylov from going right back in.
And once it gets to the mat? Guskov’s not equipped to survive there long. Krylov’s ground game is slick and violent. He’s either pounding you out or hunting for a finish, and with the kind of pressure he puts on, it’s usually just a matter of time. That’s why even with Guskov’s knockout power, this still feels like Krylov’s fight to lose. Unless Guskov catches him clean early—and yeah, it’s possible—he’s going to get drowned.
So while people are hesitant because of that last KO, it’s not enough to fade Krylov here. He’s going to be multiple steps ahead, especially once the wrestling kicks in, and at the pace he sets, it’s only a matter of time before he breaks Guskov. Expect Krylov to win this inside the distance, and don’t be surprised if it looks one-sided once it gets going.