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UFC 294 has a surprising back-up fighter in place
Later this month UFC 294 will go down at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The main event is expected to be Islam Makhachev defending the UFC lightweight title against Charles Oliveira (the man he beat to claim the vacant belt in in 2022).
However, just in case something funky goes on, and either man is ruled out of this UFC 294 championship match-up, the promotion has a back-up plan in place.
According to MMA Fighting Mateusz Gamrot is on deck to fill in should Oliveira or Makhachev be unable to make it to the Octagon.
Should he get the fight at UFC 294, this would be a quick turnaround for Gamrot. He featured at the UFC APEX two weeks ago in a main event against Rafael Fiziev. He got his hand raised in that bout after Fiziev went down with a knee injury in the second round.
In case you’ve forgotten, here’s how Stephie Haynes summed up the end of that fight during her live play-by-play.
“Right lands for Gamrot. Front kick by Fiziev is caught by Gamrot and turned into a takedown. Gamrot now has his back as Fiziev works his way back up. Gamrot super heavy on Fiziev as he finally regains his footing. Gamrot with knees in the clinch. Fiziev spins out and throws a big right kick to the body and collapses as his left knee gave out. Gamrot will win by injury TKO.”
Stephie Haynes
Mateusz Gamrot is jumping the line at 155 lbs
Mateusz Gamrot gets the call for UFC 294 despite being ranked sixth in the UFC’s lightweight division. He’s ranked below Michael Chandler, Beneil Dariush, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje.
Chandler seems to be waiting for a fight with Conor McGregor (which some have called delusional). Dariush has a win over Gamrot and is coming off a TKO loss to Oliveira in June. Gaethje and Poirier fought each other in July, with Gaethje scoring a highlight reel head kick KO on Poirier.
Gamrot has fought eight times in the UFC since jumping over from KSW in 2021. He lost his debut fight against Guram Kutateladze, but has won each fight since then (other than the bout versus Dariush).
His Octagon wins have come via close decisions over Jalin Turner and Arman Tsarukyan and stoppages versus Carlos Diego Ferreira, Jeremy Stephens and Scott Holtzman.
In KSW Gamrot held the lightweight and featherweight titles and was undefeated in 13 appearances.
UFC 294 is expected to take place on October 21 in Abu Dhabi. In addition to the lightweight title fight, Paulo Costa vs. Khamzat Chimaev and Magomed Ankalaev vs. Johnny Walker are also on tap.
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