Mateusz Gamrot strategically called out Charles Oliveira for his next opponent after securing a win over Rafael Fiziev in the UFC Vegas 79 main event. Immediately following his victory, which came about due to an injury sustained by Fiziev in the second round, Gamrot shifted his focus to Oliveira, despite the Brazilian already being scheduled for a title fight against Islam Makhachev at UFC 294. Oliveira is seeking a rematch with Makhachev after suffering a loss to him nearly a year ago.
Gamrot’s callout was not hasty; he believes Oliveira will become available for a fight against him soon, following his anticipated loss to Makhachev in October. Gamrot stated at the UFC Vegas 79 post-fight press conference, “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.”
While it remains to be seen whether Gamrot’s prediction holds true, he remains steadfast in his desire to face Oliveira. A significant part of his interest in this matchup is the opportunity to test his grappling skills against Oliveira, who boasts a UFC record of 16 submission victories during his career.
Gamrot is open to the possibility of a rematch with Fiziev if the UFC deems it suitable, considering the circumstances of their previous fight. Fiziev was promptly taken to a local hospital in Las Vegas after the main event, and the extent of his injury remains uncertain. Gamrot wishes Fiziev a swift recovery and is open to a rematch if the UFC suggests it. However, for now, he is eager to face new competition, with a preference for opponents ranked in the top 10.
In Gamrot’s words, “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 holds. If the UFC tells me that a rematch [will happen], I will say yes. But maybe not now. In the 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.”