Tag: Mateusz Gamrot

UFC’s Mateusz Gamrot says he’d have wrestling advantage in Islam Makhachev fight

A win over Dan Hooker at UFC 305 would be Mateusz Gamrot’s fourth in a row and could secure a lightweight title shot.

[autotag]Mateusz Gamrot[/autotag] considers himself the best wrestler in the UFC lightweight division.

Gamrot (24-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) meets Dan Hooker (23-12 MMA, 13-8 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC 305 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) main card at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

Winner of seven of his past eight fights, Gamrot is closing in on a title shot. He is adamant that he would pose a big threat to UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] (25-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) on the ground. Gamrot helped Dustin Poirier prep for his title fight against Makhachev at UFC 302 in June, which “The Diamond” fell short by late submission.

“In my opinion, I am the best wrestler in the lightweight division,” Gamrot said in an interview with “Home of Fight.” “Of course, Islam is super high level, and he always shows high-level skill, but if I meet him in the cage, I think he can’t take me down, but I will (take him down). Then it’s going to be a great scramble matchup.”

Makhachev’s next title defense is expected to be Arman Tsarukyan, who Gamrot edged out in a five-round battle in June 2022. Makhachev pondered a move up to welterweight for an opportunity at a second belt, but Gamrot hopes he sticks around long enough at 155 pounds so he can fight him.

“I hope he doesn’t go up division and he stays in the lightweight division,” Gamrot continued. “Maybe not this year because we don’t have time, but next year we’ll meet together, and we’ll see who is the best wrestler in the lightweight division.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 305.

Spinning Back Clique REPLAY: Francis Ngannou books PFL debut, UFC 305: Du Plessis vs. Adesanya preview, more

On this week’s episode of “Spinning Back Clique,” the panel discusses Francis Ngannou’s MMA return, UFC 305, and much more.

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.

This week’s panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Mike Bohn and Danny Segura will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate the following topics:

  • [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] is back. The former UFC heavyweight champion returns to MMA this fall, as he takes on 2023 PFL heavyweight champion [autotag]Renan Ferreira[/autotag] on Oct. 19 in a PFL pay-per-view event. What should we expect from Ngannou in his first MMA fight in over two years? How does this impact the heavyweight division in MMA? We discuss.
  • Accompanying Ngannou’s return to the cage, a women’s featherweight matchup between [autotag]Cris Cyborg[/autotag] and [autotag]Larissa Pacheco [/autotag]was also announced. This will be Cyborg’s first fight under the PFL banner. Is this the best women’s MMA fight you can make today? Where does Cyborg’s legacy stand? We break it all down.
  • This weekend, the UFC will host a pay-per-view event in Perth, Australia. A middleweight title fight between champion [autotag]Dricus Du Plessis[/autotag] (21-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) and former champion [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] (24-3 MMA, 13-3 UFC) headlines the event. UFC 305 also features [autotag]Kai Kara-France[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Steve Erceg[/autotag], [autotag]Mateusz Gamrot[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag], and other important bouts. We preview the all the action on this week’s episode.

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Dan Hooker vs. Mateusz Gamrot in the works for UFC 305 in Perth

Dan Hooker will get a big fight at UFC 305.

[autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] will get a big fight at UFC 305.

Hooker (22-12 MMA, 12-8 UFC) draws top lightweight contender [autotag]Mateusz Gamrot[/autotag] (24-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) on the Aug. 17 card at RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia.

Two people with knowledge of the situation confirmed the verbal agreements to MMA Junkie but asked to remain anonymous since the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. News of the matchup first emerged when Hooker posted it about it on his personal Instagram story (h/t @realkevink).

Hooker will get his wish of fighting alongside his City Kickboxing teammates Israel Adesanya and Kai Kara-France. “The Hangman” is coming off back-to-back wins – a TKO of Claudio Puelles, followed by a war with Jalin Turner at UFC 290.

Gamrot has won three straight, most recently a unanimous decision over former champion Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 299 in March. The American Top Team fighter has won seven of his past eight.

With the addition, the UFC 305 lineup includes:

  • Dricus Du Plessis vs. Israel Adesanya – for middleweight title
  • Steve Erceg vs. Kai Kara-France
  • Mateusz Gamrot vs. Dan Hooker
  • Jairzinho Rozenstruik vs. Tai Tuivasa
  • Li Jingliang vs. Carlos Prates
  • Justin Tafa vs. Valter Walker
  • Josh Culibao vs. Ricardo Ramos
  • Tereza Bleda vs. Casey O’Neill
  • Jack Jenkins vs. Gavin Tucker
  • Tom Nolan vs. Alex Reyes
  • Jesus Aguilar vs. Stewart Nicoll

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 305.

Unfortunate circumstances: 15 unforeseen injuries that ended UFC main events

Injuries are part of the game in MMA, but there’s nothing worse than one ends a marquee UFC fight.

While the term “freak injury” might not be appropriate to use when discussing a sport that is inherently dangerous, 14 UFC main events have ended in unforeseen injuries – broken legs, separated shoulders, eye pokes, etc. – that don’t typically come in the sequence of MMA combat.

Scroll below to see a chronology of UFC main events that ended in that nature.

Note: Injuries sustained on a TKO due to strikes or tapout due to a submission are not included, nor are retirements on the stool due to extended fight damage or exhaustion. Laceration-based stoppages also are not included since they come as an intentional result of the opposition’s attack.

Mateusz Gamrot trashes Charles Oliveira for considering Colby Covington’s callout: ‘Thought you were better than that’

Mateusz Gamrot is irked by former UFC lightweight champ Charles Oliveira’s recent behavior.

[autotag]Mateusz Gamrot[/autotag] is irked by [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag]’s recent behavior.

Oliveira (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC), a former UFC lightweight champion, is seemingly leaving his options open in the aftermath of his UFC 300 loss to Arman Tsarukyan this past month but hasn’t given much attention to the repeated callouts from Gamrot (24-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC).

Instead, Oliveira has offered to be the backup fighter for Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29, as well as tease a move up to welterweight to accept a challenge from Colby Covington.

What does not seem to be of much interest to Oliveira is showdown with Gamrot, who has won seven of his past eight fights against the likes of Tsarukyan, Rafael Fiziev and Rafael dos Anjos. And that is getting on the Polish fighter’s nerves (via X):

I asked to fight Oliveira, but he called out Colby instead. Guy who only fights once a year and is 2-3 since 2019.

We thought you were better than that, @CharlesDoBronxs. You know I’ll give you fire on the ground … but maybe that’s why you’d rather fight Colby…

Gamrot, No. 6 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie lightweight rankings, has been traversing the long road to the top of the division. His grappling-heavy style has likely cost him in the eyes of the fans and the UFC brass, but he’s not shy to take on the biggest challenges.

No. 3-ranked Oliveira has the most finishes and most submission victories in UFC history, and on paper would certainly be a stern test for Gamrot’s style.

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UFC 299 Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay: Sean O’Malley’s $42,000 tops card

Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 299 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $359,000.

MIAMI – Fighters from Saturday’s UFC 299 event took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $359,000.

The program, a comprehensive plan that includes outfitting requirements, media obligations and other items under the fighter code of conduct, replaces the previous payments made under the UFC Athlete Outfitting Policy.

UFC 299 took place at Kaseya Center. The main card aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.

The full UFC 299 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts included:

* * * *

[autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag]: $42,000
def. [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag]: $32,000

[autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag]: $21,000
def. [autotag]Benoit Saint-Denis[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Michael Page[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Kevin Holland[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Jack Della Maddalena[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Gilbert Burns[/autotag]: $21,000;

[autotag]Petr Yan[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Jailton Almeida[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Maycee Barber[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Katlyn Cerminara[/autotag]: $16,000

[autotag]Mateusz Gamrot[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Kyler Phillips[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Pedro Munhoz[/autotag]: $21,000

[autotag]Ion Cutelaba[/autotag]: $11,000
def. [autotag]Philipe Lins[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Michel Pereira[/autotag]: $6,000
def. [autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag]: $11,000

[autotag]Robelis Despaigne[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]Josh Parisian[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Asu Almabaev[/autotag]: $4,000
def. [autotag]CJ Vergara[/autotag]: $6,000

[autotag]Joanne Wood[/autotag]: $16,000
def. [autotag]Maryna Moroz[/autotag]: $11,000

Under the UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance program’s payout tiers, which appropriate the money generated by Venum’s multi-year sponsorship with the UFC, fighters are paid based on their total number of UFC bouts, as well as Zuffa-era WEC fights (January 2007 and later) and Zuffa-era Strikeforce bouts (April 2011 and later). Fighters with 1-3 bouts receive $4,000 per appearance; 4-5 bouts get $4,500; 6-10 bouts get $6,000; 11-15 bouts earn $11,000; 16-20 bouts pocket $16,000; and 21 bouts and more get $21,000. Additionally, champions earn $42,000 while title challengers get $32,000.

In addition to experience-based pay, UFC fighters will receive in perpetuity royalty payments amounting to 20-30 percent of any UFC merchandise sold that bears their likeness, according to officials.

Full 2024 UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance payouts:

Year-to-date total: $1,362,000
2023 total: $8,188,000
2022 total: $8,351,500
2021 total: $6,167,500
Program-to-date total: $24,069,000

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.

UFC 299 results: Mateusz Gamrot survives early knockdown, grinds out Rafael dos Anjos

The opening two minutes didn’t look promising for Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 299, but he rallied to beat Rafael dos Anjos.

MIAMI – [autotag]Mateusz Gamrot[/autotag] has another marquee win under his belt.

On the UFC 299 prelims Saturday at Kaseya Center, Gamrot (24-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) defeated Rafael dos Anjos (32-16 MMA, 21-14 UFC) by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27). Gamrot survived an early scare and largely dominated the final 13 minutes of the bout.

Dos Anjos found success with his punches early as he tagged Gamrot twice, including one punch that caused a knockdown. Gamrot immediately turned to his wrestling roots and controlled much of the remainder of Round 1.

In Round 2, Gamrot continued his grapple-heavy attack as he stuck to dos Anjos like glue for much of the five minutes. In the waning seconds, Dos Anjos landed a hard body shot on Gamrot, who appeared to be feeling the effects of 10 minutes of grinding.

Possibly tied on the scorecards as the fight entered the final round, Gamrot landed a hard punch, perhaps his best of the night, early. Gamrot drove dos Anjos in the cage multiple times. Though his takedowns were largely denied, Gamrot ate up a lot of clock with positional control.

With the win, Gamrot extends his current streak to three. He has seven wins in his most recent eight outings. The lone loss was a unanimous decision to Beneil Dariush. The win strengthens Gamrot’s case as one of the top fighters in the division. Gamrot was the title fight backup athlete for UFC 294 in October.

Up-to-the-minute UFC 299 results include:

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.

Mateusz Gamrot def. Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 299: Best photos

Check out the best photos from Mateusz Gamrot’s win over Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 299.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Mateusz Gamrot[/autotag]’s unanimous decision win over [autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] at UFC 299 at Kaseya Center in Miami. (Fight and venue photos by Sam Navarro, USA Today Sports)

Mateusz Gamrot not taking shot against ex-champion Rafael dos Anjos lightly at UFC 299

On paper, Mateusz Gamrot has likely the biggest test of his career in front of him at UFC 299 in Miami.

MIAMI – [autotag]Mateusz Gamrot[/autotag] met the media Wednesday ahead of his fight at UFC 299.

Gamrot (23-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) takes on former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos (32-15 MMA, 21-13 UFC) on the prelims at Kaseya Center in Miami. At the event’s media day, Gamrot took questions from press members before his fight.

“I accept that RDA will be attacking me,” Gamrot said. “There’s going to be a lot of action, a lot of scrambles on the ground. I think this fight can be similar (to my fight with Arman) Tsarukyan. I’m happy that I can fight with a former champ, tough opponent. (It’s a) big test, but I am ready.””

Gamrot is at much as a 5-1 favorite against dos Anjos at some online sportsbooks, which makes him easily the heaviest favorite on Saturday’s card.

Check out Gamrot’s full media day interview in the video above.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.

Former champ Rafael dos Anjos returns to lightweight to fight Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 299 in March

Rafael dos Anjos will return to lightweight at UFC 299 with an opportunity to disrupt the top of the division.

[autotag]Rafael dos Anjos[/autotag] will return to lightweight with an opportunity to disrupt the top of the division.

Dos Anjos, 39, has made his last two octagon appearances at welterweight. But for his next fight, he’s going back to the division where he was once UFC champion as he’s set to meet [autotag]Mateusz Gamrot[/autotag] in a 155-pound bout March 9 at UFC 299.

The event is expected to take place in Miami, but the promotion has yet to officially confirm the location and venue.

Despite not competing as a lightweight since July 2022, Dos Anjos (32-15 MMA, 21-13 UFC) remains No. 11in the official UFC rankings, while Gamrot (23-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) is No. 6.

Gamrot, 33, had been on a four-fight winning streak before he lost to Beneil Dariush in October 2022. Since then, he’s earned back-to-back victories against Jalin Turner (by split decision) and most recently Rafael Fiziev (by injury TKO) this past September.

In his two most recent appearances at welterweight, dos Anjos choked out Bryan Barberena last year and followed up with a unanimous decision loss to Vicente Luque in a five-round headliner this past August.

The updated UFC 299 card includes:

  • Champ Sean O’Malley vs. Marlon Vera – for bantamweight title
  • Maycee Barber vs. Katlyn Chookagian
  • Jailton Almeida vs. Curtis Blaydes
  • Rafael dos Anjos vs. Mateusz Gamrot
  • Pedro Munhoz vs. Kyler Phillips
  • Lauren Murphy vs. Karine Silva
  • Asu Almabaev vs. CJ Vergara

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.