Mateusz Gamrot, the former KSW champion who recently emerged victorious against Rafael Fiziev at UFC Vegas 79, has raised eyebrows with his bold and calculated callout of Charles Oliveira for his next opponent. While Oliveira is already slated for a title fight against reigning UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 294, Gamrot’s strategic move leaves fans and analysts speculating about his intentions.
In a surprising twist during the post-fight press conference, Gamrot explained his reasoning, saying, “I know Charles Oliveira has a fight soon next month with the champ. My prediction, the result will be the same as last time, that Islam defends his belt. I can wait for Charles Oliveira until next year, maybe March, maybe May, we will be ready for him and I want to fight with him.”
This confident callout suggests that Gamrot expects Oliveira to suffer a loss at the hands of Makhachev once again. While the outcome remains uncertain, Gamrot’s determination to face Oliveira next is crystal clear.
Gamrot’s motivation for this potential matchup lies in his desire to challenge his grappling skills against Charles Oliveira, a UFC record-holder with 16 submission victories to his name. Gamrot expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I would like to test myself against Charles Oliveira because he is the most dangerous guy on the ground. My previous opponents, every time they would stand up, stand up, and the ground is hot for everybody. But the next one, I would like to challenge myself on the ground. I want to show my really good skills in jiu-jitsu. I want to show how good I am on the ground. I think this guy will be the first guy in my career who will want to fight with me on the ground.”
However, Gamrot’s aspirations hinge on the outcome of the impending Makhachev vs. Oliveira clash at UFC 294. Until the dust settles in October, Gamrot will have to wait and see if the Brazilian fighter becomes available for their showdown.
Regarding a potential rematch with Rafael Fiziev, Gamrot remained open to the idea, saying, “We’ll see. Rafael is a good guy, I like him, of course. We have a good relationship. I wish him a quick recovery. I hope his injury is not so big. But this is not my decision. This decision is for the boss in the UFC. My goal is gold. I want to climb to the top. I want to beat every guy. I want opponents higher than me in the rankings, and we’ll see what the future shows me. If the UFC told me that a rematch will happen, I will say yes. But maybe not now. Next fight, I want a guy from the top 10, and I want a really good performance and I want to finish a guy in the octagon.”
With his eyes firmly fixed on the championship and a potential grappling showdown with Charles Oliveira, Mateusz Gamrot’s post-fight callout has added an intriguing layer of excitement to the UFC lightweight division. As fans eagerly anticipate the outcome of UFC 294, Gamrot’s ambitions are poised to reshape the landscape of the division.
Mateusz Gamrot’s strategic callout of Charles Oliveira has ignited excitement in the world of MMA. While his confidence in Oliveira’s impending loss to Makhachev may raise eyebrows, it showcases Gamrot’s ambition and his eagerness to challenge himself against one of the sport’s best ground fighters. Whether this bold move pays off or not, it undoubtedly adds a new level of intrigue to the UFC lightweight division.
Gamrot’s determination to face Charles Oliveira is a testament to his self-belief and his willingness to take on the best in the division. It’s a gamble, considering Oliveira’s proven skills, but in the unpredictable world of MMA, such audacious challenges often lead to remarkable stories. Gamrot’s journey will be one to watch closely as he aims for the gold and an opportunity to showcase his ground game against a submission specialist like Oliveira.
