Charles Oliveira awaits a new opponent for UFC Rio, but Michael Bisping thinks the answer has fallen right in Oliveira’s lap.
“Do Bronx” still hopes to headline the Oct. 11 event in Brazil after losing
opponent Rafael Fiziev to injury and he recently expressed his irritation with his lightweight rivals for publicly throwing their name in the octagon only to stop short at signing a contract. One prominent name calling for the fight is Polish veteran Mateusz Gamrot, who has published several tweets lobbying for the opportunity:
Given the timing and Gamrot’s place in the rankings, Bisping sees him as the best choice right now.
“I can’t imagine Charles Oliveira will turn this down,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “Remember, these are tweets on Sunday from Mateusz Gamrot. I’m sure that when Charles Oliveira gets wind of this, I’m sure the UFC would like to make this matchup. … Mateusz Gamrot 100 percent wants the fight. I think that’s the fight to make.”
Oliveira stands as the No. 4 lightweight in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings, with Gamrot currently at No. 9. Gamrot has won four of his past five fights and has more to gain from this short-notice opportunity as a win over Oliveira could vault him into an unlikely title shot.
That’s one factor Oliveira has to weigh when considering who he’d like the UFC to pair him up with in Rio, but Bisping is confident that if it’s Gamrot who gets the call, Oliveira is up for that challenge.
“I’m sure Charles Oliveira is not worried about the style of Mateusz Gamrot,” Bisping said. “Charles Oliveira has stepped in there against the very best. He’s not scared of anyone. Fighters at this level, they aren’t scared. The stylistic matchup that he has, the way that he goes forward, the way that he walks people down, the way that he strikes, he’s got knockout power. He’s got finishing ability in every bloody fiber of his body.
“And Mateusz Gamrot, given his style, isn’t going to knock him out because he’s just not that guy. He tends to go forward, he’ll use a single-leg takedown, head on the outside, which is dangerous against Oliveira for the guillotines, but that’s what he does. He takes people down and he’s got a really smothering style on the ground and, of course, a tremendous ground game, but it’s not the striking that he’s known for. Given the last fight [Oliveira] had against Ilia Topuria, the last thing you want to do is go up against someone with knockout power, which is what he was doing against Fiziev, and that’s why I respected him taking that matchup. This truly is kind of a crazy wrinkle here from Mateusz Gamrot.”
Bisping thinks Gamrot has been smart to respond to Oliveira’s comments so quickly and so aggressively, because now the narrative could shift, placing the pressure on Oliveira to accept the fight.
“I was talking about Charles Oliveira and how pissed off he is because apparently no one wants to face him,” Bisping said. “Now, the shoe’s on other foot, it has been completely flipped because Mateusz Gamrot is saying, ‘Hold on a minute, d*ckhead, you’re the one that won’t fight.’”
TOP STORIES
Choices. Diego Lopes and Joaquim Silva have also emerged as surprise candidates to replace Fiziev.
Sure. David Feldman says Conor McGregor is “very serious” about UFC comeback and potential BKFC fight.
Lip. Robbie Lawler had a brief, but memorable conversation with Dana White after epic Rory MacDonald fight.
Inhumane. Darren Till describes the UFC limiting fighter sponsorships as “cruel.”
Happy Trails. Melvin Guillard won his first MMA fight in 11 years and then called it a career.
VIDEO STEW
MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin chats with BKFC boss David Feldman.
The latest Anything But Fighting with José Youngs and Gerald Meerschaert.
Jake Paul vs. Tank Davis press conference video.
Dan Hooker keeping himself busy.
Demetrious Johnson marks out over bare-knuckle Yoel Romero.
Loading up for UFC 320.
FLAVOR IN YOUR EAR
Severe MMA. Sean Sheehán and Graeme McDonnell discuss Paddy McCorry’s DWCS outing, what to look out for at Cage Warriors Dublin this Saturday, and UFC Perth.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Khamzat at UFC White House?
Still a chance.
This is going to end well.
Dana definitely getting UFC White House ideas…
Art Jimmerson would have crushed this.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Vicente Luque (23-11-1) vs. Joel Alvarez (22-3); UFC Rio, Oct. 11
FINAL THOUGHTS
No UFC this past weekend, no pay-per-views in September, and a UFC Perth card Saturday that I’m not sure people know is happening? We’re really easing into fall, aren’t we?
But hey, spend time with your loved ones and indulge in some self-care. The big scraps will be here soon enough.
EXIT POLL
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