Mateusz Gamrot Has A Golden Opportunity Against Charles Oliveira

Mateusz Gamrot wanted Charles Oliveira in Brazil; now he gets it. On Tuesday, the former UFC lightweight champion himself made the announcement in a video posted to to the promotion’s Brazilian X.com account.

Gamrot replaces Rafael Fiziev, who had been forced to pull out last week because of an injury. It will be his third being booked in a UFC headliner, and it represents his greatest opportunity yet.

The “Gamer” In The Octagon: A Primer

When Gamrot was first signed to the UFC in 2020, he had much clout. He had been a two-weight champion in KSW, the largest MMA organization in his native Poland. His debut, however, came in a most inauspicious of circumstances.

It was in a “Fight Island” card in Abu Dhabi, against fellow debutant Guram Kutateladze. Gamrot dropped a bonus-winning split decision, but bigger things only came from there. He would win his next four fights, one of them against current top contender Arman Tsarukyan, before meeting Beneil Dariush.

The fight, however, did not go well. Gamrot lost by unanimous decision. He would rebound with a three-win streak, the last coming against former champion Rafael dos Anjos, but then Dan Hooker halted his momentum.

Gamrot’s last fight stands as the most bizarre one so far. He was always scheduled to fight L’udovit Klein, but they became the unexpected main event after Maycee Barber fell ill on fight day. He took a dominant decision win to cap off a dreary day for the UFC.

Does A Title Shot Beckon?

Beating Oliveira might not put Gamrot in position for an immediate title shot, but it will put him near it.

First, Gamrot has prepared for a title fight before. Back in 2023, Oliveira was supposed to rematch Islam Makhachev – only for him to suffer an injury. “Gamer” had been penciled in as the backup, only to be passed over for Alexander Volkanovski.

Second, there is the current situation. With Justin Gaethje presumed to be Ilia Topuria’s first challenger, Tsarukyan and Hooker have been targeted to headline the UFC’s Qatari debut in November.

Gamrot has a history with both men. He beat Tsarukyan, and Hooker beat him. Beating Oliveira, then either of them, will put him on a three-win streak, making his case for a title shot airtight this time.