As we build into fight week of UFC Vegas 79, we take a closer look at one half of the main event, Mateusz ‘Gamer’ Gamrot.
Mateusz Gamrot will take on fellow top ten contender Rafael Fiziev in what promises to be a highly competitive fight. Both Fiziev and Gamrot currently sit just below the more established names in the lightweight division. A position that both men are unfortunately getting used to. Both have had an opportunity to break that mould and smash their way into the top five. Both failed.
Gamrot, was the first to fall short in October last year as he slipped to a unanimous decision defeat to Beneil Dariush. Fiziev followed not long after as he fell at the hands of ‘BMF’ title holder, Justin Gaethje.
Now both men sit at #6 (Fiziev) & #7 (Gamrot) as they look to try once more to establish themselves as top contenders.
Mateusz Gamrot – A Top Five Contender?
The ‘Gamer’ is undoubted-ably one of the best skill-for-skill fighters in the division. He is well-rounded and is comfortable wherever the fight takes place. It is no secret that Gamrot prefers to grapple. That is his wheelhouse. Yet, there is much more to Gamrot than just simply being a wrestler.
Gamrot is a fighter who makes ever so subtle movements to keep his opponents guessing at what is coming next. Yet we seem to be in a position of now or never with Gamrot. At almost 33 years of age, Gamrot is by no means over the hill. In fact, you could argue that he is smack bang in the middle of his prime. Which makes this fight even more relevant in the career of Mateusz Gamrot.
Gamrot has been in the organisation for three years now. He’s taken his licks and he has bounced back but if Gamrot has an really title aspirations, which I am sure he does. He needs to hit the rocket launcher on his career and he needs to do it, now.
The ‘Gamer’ has all the potential in the world but he needs to put together a solid run. It started with Jalin Turner, it needs to continue with Rafael Fiziev. If he can do that, it opens the door to the top five once more. A win would see Gamrot jump above Fiziev but more importantly it gives him nothing but great options. The current champion is Islam Makhachev, below him? Charles Oliveira, Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, Beneil Dariush and Michael Chandler.
All of the above present fresh, exciting challenges for Gamrot. A win over any of the names mentioned will no doubt put him right into the title mix. The name on that list with the least amount of hype right now will be Beneil Dariush but I am sure that Gamrot would love an opportunity to get that one back.
The Road So Far
Gamrot joined the UFC in October 2020 after a successful spell in KSW. The ‘Gamer’ held world titles in both the featherweight and the lightweight divisions before making the switch to the UFC. It was not a friendly start for Gamrot. He ran into Guram Kutateladze. Gamrot lost the bout via split decision.
The ‘Gamer’ bounced back though and a three fight winning streak put him right back on track. A second round KO win over Scott Holtzman was followed by a first round submission of Jeremy Stephens. A second round TKO against Carlos Diego Ferreira kept the winning run going and led Gamrot into a matchup with fellow hot prospect Arman Tsarukyan.
Gamrot kept the streak going and picked up a unanimous decision win against a very talented Tsarukyan. Then, the run stalled. Gamrot stepped up against Beneil Dariush and was found wanting, as Dariush claimed a unanimous decision.
The ‘Gamer’ was just beginning to pick up steam and had impressed many with a win over Tsarukyan. Yet, with defeat at the hands of Beneil Dariush, Gamrot was in need of a reset.
Mateusz returned to face up and coming prospect Jalin Turner at UFC 285 back in March. A closely fought contest saw Gamrot claim a split decision win. Gamrot will no doubt be hoping to get himself onto another hot run towards the title but this is a fight that could see him fall once more.
If Gamrot is ever going to be, all that he can be, he needs to step up, he needs to beat Fiziev and he needs to look great doing it.
Welcome to Gamrot
Mateusz Gamrot, as I said at the beginning of this article, has everything. He has the skillset, he can be a champion. I just feel like whenever Gamrot picks up any kind of real pace, he slips. If he is able to take out a fellow top contender, a very dangerous fighter in Rafael Fiziev he will have the world at his fingertips. The metaphorical ball, will be in his hands.
For that to happen, Gamrot needs to step up. He needs to show us more than we have seen so far to-date.
Gamrot could be only two wins away from a title shot. One big win here against Fiziev and another top contender along the way and he will be right there.
Gamrot’s career so far has been surrounded by ifs, buts and maybes. On Saturday night, he needs to put it all together and show that this is his time and that he is finally ready to achieve his potential.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
