PERTH, Australia – Dan Hooker said he loves his fight with [autotag]Mateusz Gamrot[/autotag] because it’s a chance to make a leap in the rankings.
But for Gamrot, who once was tapped to be a backup fighter for a lightweight title fight, thinks a win over Hooker should yield a title shot – and if not against champion Islam Makhachev, who is expected to be on the shelf a while, then against another contender for an interim strap against an opponent he beat in his first UFC main event two years ago: Arman Tsarukyan.
“(If Hooker wins), of course he’s happy because I am No. 5 in the rankings,” Gamrot said at Thursday’s media day for UFC 305 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) . “He is 11th, so this is like a gift for him (to fight me). But this is also a gift for me because he’s a tough opponent, he’s a good name, and this guy has really big experience in the UFC. It depends what I show in the cage (Saturday), but if I finish him, next fight I would like to fight for the interim title.
Islam Makhachev, if he can’t fight this year, for sure, I want to fight with Arman. I already beat him. He’s realistic. It’s great to me. I think the fight will be easier than the first time. So first step, my 100 (percent) focus is on Dan Hooker, then if I give a really good performance, give me Arman.”
In a close fight, Gamrot (24-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) beat Tsarukyan with a trio of 48-47 scores for a unanimous decision in their five-round main event UFC on ESPN 38 headliner in Las Vegas in June 2022.
Tsarukyan has won four straight since then, including an April apparent title eliminator against former champ Charles Oliveira at UFC 300. But if Makhachev can’t take on Tsarukyan any time in the near future, Gamrot wants to move things along and jump into the queue.
Gamrot has won three straight heading into the Hooker fight and seven of his past eight. The lone loss in that stretch came to Beneil Dariush at UFC 280.
Check out Gamrot’s full media day interview above. UFC 305 takes place Saturday at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 305.