![Islam Makhachev (Left) and Mateusz Gamrot (Right) [Images via: Makhachev BT Sport | YouTube, Gamrot from MMA Crazy | YouTube| poster from @ufc on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/10/54eb1-16662429754952-1920.jpg)
![Islam Makhachev (Left) and Mateusz Gamrot (Right) [Images via: Makhachev BT Sport | YouTube, Gamrot from MMA Crazy | YouTube| poster from @ufc on Instagram]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda MMA recently, Mateusz Gamrot laid down his prediction for the upcoming UFC lightweight championship showdown between Charles Oliveira and Islam Makhachev.
The ADCC European circuit champion and former KSW simultaneous multi-weight champion is widely regarded as the epitome of a new wave of young talent emerging in the UFC.
Mateusz Gamrot, who's scheduled to fight Beneil Dariush next at UFC 280, picked Islam Makhachev to get his hand raised against Charles Oliveira in the main event. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Andrew Whitelaw of Sportskeeda MMA, Gamrot stated:
"I think Islam [is] going to get the win. I keep my fingers crossed for him. I think he beats Charles Oliveira. He's one of the toughest fighters in the lightweight division."
While speaking about a potential fight with the Dagestani in the future, Gamrot added that he fancies his chances and believes that he can out-grapple Makhachev:
"For sure! Of course...Wrestling is in my DNA, jiu-jitsu is in my DNA. Every single fight when I step [inside] the octagon, I use my wrestling. [A] fight with Islam is going to be the same."
Watch our exclusive interview with Mateusz Gamrot below:
Gamrot's last fight inside the octagon was against fellow up-and-comer Arman Tsarukyan at UFC Vegas 57. The high-octane battle was fully charged with top-quality wrestling scrambles and exceptional striking exchanges. In the end, Gamrot emerged as the victor with a unanimous decision.
Watch the full fight below:
Mateusz Gamrot hopes Alexander Volkanovski's Abu Dhabi visit remains "just a holiday"
Mateusz Gamrot weighed in on featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski being brought in as a replacement if the UFC 280 main event falls apart.
The No.1-ranked UFC men's pound-for-pound fighter has flown to Abu Dhabi to fill in as a backup. This decision by the UFC perplexed certain sections of the MMA community, given that two high-level competitors are already booked to fight on the same card.
Giving his thoughts on the entire situation in the same exclusive interview, Gamrot said:
"This is not my turn, you know. Beneil accepted that he's going to be the backup for this [Oliveira vs. Makhachev] fight. But I'm happy that my fight is going to be a success, and Oliveira vs. Islam is a success. But Volkanovski is coming here just for like holiday."
Gamrot faces the biggest challenge of his pro-MMA career when he faces No.6-ranked lightweight contender Beneil Dariush at UFC 280. 'Gamer' is going into the fight this weekend riding an impressive four-fight unbeaten streak.
Viewers in India can watch the LIVE coverage of UFC 280 on SONY TEN 2 (English), SONY TEN 3 (Hindi) & SONY TEN 4 (Tamil & Telugu) channels at 11:30 pm IST on October 22, 2022.
