Mateusz Gamrot didn’t make a mistake when he known as out Charles Oliveira for his subsequent opponent after a win over Rafael Fiziev within the UFC Vegas 79 principal occasion.
Simply moments after his hand was raised in victory following an harm suffered by Fiziev within the second spherical, the previous two-division KSW champion turned his consideration to Oliveira even if the Brazilian is already booked for a title battle at UFC 294. Oliveira challenges reigning UFC light-weight champion Islam Makhachev in a rematch after struggling a loss to him virtually precisely one yr in the past.
It seems Gamrot was calculated along with his callout, as a result of he expects Oliveira might be accessible to battle him quickly — after he inevitably loses to Makhachev once more in October.
“I do know [Charles Oliveira] has a battle quickly subsequent month with the champ,” Gamrot defined on the UFC Vegas 79 post-fight press convention. “My prediction — the outcome would be the similar as final time, that Islam defends his belt.
“I can look forward to Charles Oliveira till subsequent yr, perhaps March, perhaps Might, we might be prepared for him and I wish to battle with him.”
It stays to be seen if Gamrot might be confirmed proper or fallacious, however he’s steadfast in his request for Oliveira subsequent.
An enormous a part of the rationale Gamrot needs that battle comes right down to his want to check his grappling abilities in opposition to Oliveira, who holds the file for essentially the most submission victories in UFC historical past with 16 throughout his profession.
“I want to check myself in opposition to Charles Oliveira as a result of he’s essentially the most harmful man on the bottom,” Gamrot stated. “My earlier opponents, each time [they would] get up, get up, and the bottom is sizzling for everyone. However the subsequent one, I want to problem myself on the bottom.
“I wish to present my actually good abilities in jiu-jitsu. I wish to present how good I’m on the bottom. I feel this man would be the first man in my profession who will wish to battle with me on the bottom.”
Gamrot will clearly have to attend and see how issues play out at UFC 294 earlier than he can know for positive if Oliveira could also be accessible for him.
So far as working issues again with Fiziev, contemplating the way in which their battle ended on Saturday, Gamrot isn’t in opposition to the thought if that’s what the UFC needs.
Fiziev was taken to an area hospital in Las Vegas as quickly as the principle occasion ended so the extent of the harm he suffered continues to be unknown. As soon as Fiziev is healed, Gamrot has no drawback accepting that battle once more if the UFC provides it, however for now he needs to show his consideration to new competitors as an alternative.
“We’ll see,” Gamrot stated of a possible rematch. “Rafael is an effective man, I like him in fact. We’ve an excellent relationship. I want him a fast restoration. I hope his harm just isn’t so large. We’ll see. However this isn’t my choice. This choice is for the boss within the UFC.
“My purpose is gold. I wish to climb to the highest. I wish to beat each man. I need opponents greater than me within the rankings and we’ll see what the longer term reveals me. If UFC instructed me {that a} rematch [will happen], I’ll say sure. However perhaps not now. Subsequent battle, I need a man from high 10, and I need a actually good efficiency and I wish to end a man within the octagon.”
