Mateusz Gamrot’s rise in the UFC has been nothing short of electrifying — and his latest achievement proves just how dangerous he truly is once the fight hits the mat. Earlier in his career, he stunned fans by dismantling a seasoned veteran in record-breaking fashion, finishing the bout with a kimura submission in just 65 seconds. But here’s the twist most people overlook: that victory came against Jeremy Stephens, a fighter with 52 professional bouts to his name, underscoring Gamrot’s skill under pressure.
Now, ‘Gamer’ is heading to UFC Rio with his sights set firmly on a future title shot. This Saturday, he steps into hostile territory to battle Brazil’s own Charles Oliveira — the all-time leader in UFC submissions and one of the sport’s most feared grapplers. The matchup only came together when Rafael Fiziev was forced out due to injury, creating a golden opportunity for the Polish contender. Yet the road to securing Oliveira as an opponent wasn’t straightforward. Gamrot openly wondered whether the Brazilian star hesitated due to the clash in styles. After all, Fiziev is a striker, while Gamrot’s grappling-heavy approach presents an entirely different threat.
Gamrot’s submission résumé is impressive. Though he’s collected five tap-out victories in his 25 professional wins, only one has come inside the UFC — but what a memorable one it was. At UFC Vegas 31 back in July 2021, he faced Jeremy Stephens beneath the main event spotlight of Islam Makhachev’s win over Thiago Moises. In that fight, Gamrot wasted no time, locking in the fastest kimura in UFC history, forcing ‘Lil Heathen’ to submit in just over a minute.
Fast-forward to today, and Gamrot isn’t backing down from Oliveira’s fearsome reputation. Speaking during fight week, he expressed both respect and curiosity over Oliveira’s initial reluctance: “It surprised me because he knows my name, he respects me. But his camp was prepared for a striker, not my style of grappling. It was funny to me — he’s the lion, the man with the most submissions in UFC history, and yet there seemed to be a hesitation. How can a submission master be afraid of another grappler?”
Gamrot’s game plan is unapologetically clear: take Oliveira down and engage him on the ground, exactly where both men excel. Fans are now left wondering — will Oliveira’s submission prowess dominate, or will Gamrot’s relentless ground attack claim another high-profile victim? And here’s the controversial question: was Oliveira truly hesitant because of Gamrot’s style, or was it simply a tactical decision based on preparation? Let’s hear your thoughts — could this be the fight where the UFC’s submission king meets his match?
