Mateusz Gamrot plans to test his field skills against former champion Charles Oliveira in 2024.
Looks like Gamrot is hungry for more and that his recent victory isn’t enough for him. But the question here is why did he choose Charles specifically? Is he just overconfident at the moment because of his recent win? Will this fight even happen? Continue reading to find out!
Gamrot defeated Rafael Fiziev in the main event of UFC Fight Night 228 at the UFC Apex, but not in the way anyone had imagined. Gamrot successfully blocked a strong right kick from Fiziev that was a direct body attack. However, Fiziev’s left knee gave way and he instantly collapsed to the floor, stopping the fight in the second round due to injury.
Gamrot stated during a post-fight news conference that it was an unfortunate situation, and nobody knew what had happened in the cage. He mentioned two things: first, he emphasized that a win is a win, and he stressed the importance of sportsmanship. The second point he made was about the preparation that goes into a fight camp, including attacks like kicks and punches. He also highlighted that he had prepared his defense specifically for Rafa’s kicks, as he anticipated that Rafa would use them frequently.
Gamrot undoubtedly didn’t anticipate Fiziev getting hurt, but the outcome still counts as his second UFC main event victory. His debut took place in the same building last June against Arman Tsarukyan, which Gamrot won by unanimous decision.
Gamrot plans to challenge Charles Oliveira, a former champion and one of the best in the lightweight division, in his next fight. Gamrot is prepared to wait until early 2024 even though “Do Bronx” is now scheduled to battle Islam Makhachev for the lightweight championship at UFC 294 in Las Vegas.
Gamrot expressed his interest in testing himself against Charles Oliveira in his upcoming fight. He noted that he viewed Oliveira as the most formidable opponent when it comes to ground fighting. Gamrot elaborated that in his past fights, the emphasis had primarily been on stand-up combat, and he believed that the ground was a challenging aspect for all fighters. He stated his intention to showcase his excellent jiu-jitsu skills and demonstrate his proficiency on the ground. Gamrot also anticipated that Oliveira would be the first opponent in his career who would actively engage in ground fighting with him.
Oliveira reclaiming the lightweight title in October makes no difference to Gamrot.
Gamrot mentioned that he was aware that Charles Oliveira had a fight scheduled for the next month against the champion. He predicted that the outcome of that fight would be similar to their previous encounter, with Islam successfully defending his championship belt. Gamrot indicated that he was willing to wait until next year for a potential fight with Charles Oliveira, regardless of whether it took place in March, April, or May. He emphasized his readiness and desire to face Oliveira in the future.
Do you feel Gamrot will be able to prove the claim he’s making so confidently in front of the whole world? Do let us know your thoughts about this in the comment section!
