The promotion heads back to the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas for another Fight Night card with Fiziev and Gamrot set to battle for five rounds.

Before the event kicks off this weekend, make sure to catch up on the latest betting odds, as well as our detailed fight breakdowns, predictions, and betting tips for this fight and all other fight predictions here.

• How to watch: Watch every fight live this weekend on ESPN+
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Betting Odds

Rafael Fiziev will enter this main event as the betting favorite with odds of -155 up against Mateusz Gamrot, who can be found as a slight underdog at +125.

• Mateusz Gamrot: +125 (BetUS)
• Rafael Fiziev: -155 (BetUS)

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Fiziev vs Gamrot predictions

Braeden Arbour

This is a very high level of MMA being showcased this Saturday. Both of these men push a high pace and take risks. Fiziev will obviously look to keep the fight standing and highlight his world-class muay thai, while Gamrot will be looking to mix things up and put Fiziev on the mat early.

Fiziev will have to deny the takedown consistently. He has 90% takedown defense thus far in the octagon, due to a number of factors. Fiziev is powerful and technical in his wrestling defense but even more importantly his management of range and space allow him to largely be in control of the striking dynamic. By extension, he makes it very difficult for his opponent to set any traps in order to capitalize on a takedown or find their timing to level change.

Fiziev is known for his power kicks, preferably for him the rear right kick from the conventional stance. A strike so powerful it garners respect from most opponents and forces them to react dramatically whenever he shows them the look. He does not telegraph the direction, hiding the target, whether the head, ribs or midsection, making it particularly difficult to read or block. This forces his opponents to largely shell up and defend, instead of looking for a counter as often as against others. Fiziev has a tricky combination, entering with the right kick to the switch step through the right cross, setting up a big left hook. Although his strikes are always fast and crisp, he allows himself to wind up on some power punches when he can freeze up his opponent with the threat of the kick or a stance switch.

Yet, while Fiziev’s distance control makes it difficult to time a good takedown, Gamrot rarely needs the perfect shot to enter. Gamrot has a takedown accuracy stat of just 30%, which is massively misleading. He is one of the best chain wrestlers in a division with many high level grapplers, and he will often look to shoot any initial level change just to make contact and then work from there.

Often, you will see Gamrot lull his opponent before going from 0-100, diving for an ankle, changing the angle and chaining on his next attempt to gain control. He will allow his opponents to create space while they scramble to expose the back, or build up another shot with full momentum.

This is why, although Fiziev has good technical anti-wrestling and range control, he will have to consistently be aware because Gamrot will look to shoot at unorthodox and technically inopportune times, knowing that on the third or forth transition in the sequence he can find his control position. Gamrot will take chokes if they are offered but typically specializes in isolating and snatching limbs for joint lock submissions.

This is a very good fight. If odds were even, I do like the chances of Fiziev making it awkward enough to shoot on him, that he finds Gamrot’s chin enough to hurt him badly. However as the underdog, Gamrot is a good value. Fiziev, while looking incredible in all his fights, dominance and wars, has not actually faced the kind of grappler that Gamrot represents. Yes, Fiziev has denied good grapplers, but the submission threat on top of the chain wrestling will be the biggest test so far for the Thai boxing expert.

Best Bet: Mateusz Gamrot to win (+121)

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Michael Pounders

Rafael “Ataman” Fiziev, 30, lost a fight-of-the-year caliber match to Gaethje back in March, which brought his UFC record to 6-2. The #6 ranked lightweight is no stranger to fan-friendly fights, often putting on a show whether he wins via spinning wheel kick or loses by majority decision. No matter the outcome, Fiziev’s unique and video-game-like striking often results in violence.

Fiziev is as fast as lightning, as damaging as a jackhammer, and as dynamic as the controversial UFC striking updates. Hyperbole and jokes aside, Fiziev is one of the best Muay Thai strikers in the stacked lightweight division. He typically starts fast, pushing and pressuring forward early in the fight. Fiziev, using pressure, feints, and stance switching, looks to trap his opponent to create a stationary target.

As he’s pressuring and switching stances, Fiziev lands devastating body, head, and back-leg calf kicks. That back-leg calf kick represents how dynamic and athletic he is, few fighters have the speed and flexibility to land that kick with regularity. Once his opponents are trapped or decide to plant their feet, Fiziev really ramps up his volume. He looks for digs to the body, creative kicks to the head, or a simple but powerful 1-2 combination.

Beyond his elite striking, Fiziev is also a highly skilled defensive grappler. He has unique balance and ability to keep it standing, especially against single leg attempts where he can raise his taken leg up and bounce on his grounded leg. Fiziev’s killer body shots also result in natural underhooks which help him stuff take down attempts. Even though Fiziev often has the edge on the feet and many fighters have tried to take him down, he still holds a 90% takedown defense.

Mateusz “Gamer” Gamrot, 32, began his career undefeated until he lost a split decision that he arguably won. This resulted in Gamrot often being considered the unsung contender of the division. Then, he fought the surging Arman Tsarukyan in a fight that went 25 insanely hard minutes and included some of the highest-level grappling exchanges and scrambling moments in any fight.

Since then, Gamrot lost a decision and won a controversial split. This has shifted his reputation from the unsung contender to someone who might be overrated. As with most things, I think the middle is more accurate. Gamrot is undeniably an excellent fighter with persistent and high-volume boxing who can weaponize pressure. He is also a strong wrestler and grappler who averages 4.5 takedown attempts per fight. “Gamer” only lands his takedowns at a 31% clip; but, once he gets fighters down, Gamrot is able to hold position well and land effective ground and pound while winning important minutes of rounds.

What Gamrot’s wrestling does that can’t be tracked by statistics is how it opens up his striking. Gamrot will regularly feint takedowns to get his opponents to react to the shot, leaving their chin exposed for Gamrot to land a quick combination. By keeping his opponent guessing, Gamrot is able to win round after round in fights. That coupled with his pressure and resilience often results in him winning close decisions with regularity.

This is a terrible stylistic matchup for Gamrot. Despite Strickland shocking the world by out-striking an elite kickboxer with his basic but persistent boxing; typically, once fighters are at a similarly high level, the more dynamic striker will win the exchanges on the feet.

There is no question that Fiziev’s Matrix-like Muay Thai far exceeds Gamrot’s boxing in terms of dynamism, speed, and damage. Moreover, I feel both Fiziev’s and Gamrot’s cardio tanks have been misrepresented in opposite directions. Fiziev often looks tried in the cage but tends to fight, even in the later rounds of a war, with explosive movements.

This indicates that, despite his outward fatigue, “Ataman” is able to push through the wall and succeed in deep waters. Meanwhile, outside of his stellar fight with Tsarukyan, Gamrot’s cardio has been reliable but not a weapon. He looked understandably slower in round 3 of both of his last fights. While I do expect Gamrot to have the better gas tank, I don’t expect him to be able to weaponize it in this fight.

Finally, I see Gamrot’s wrestling x-factor as a non-factor against the athletic, unbelievably well-balanced, and explosive Fiziev who, despite fighting strong grapplers in Diakiese, Moicano, and RDA, still holds a 90% takedown defense. Fiziev’s body work will serve as a natural underhook and his balance will help him stay upright when Gamrot looks for single leg attempts. In short, I respect Gamrot and think the line in this fight is appropriate; and, while I’m not making a substantial bet, I will be siding with Fiziev.

Best Bet: Fiziev to win (-155)

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Joe Pounders

Rafael Fiziev is one of the most entertaining strikers in the lightweight division, if not the entire UFC. Training out of Tiger Muay Thai, Fiziev has an excellent arsenal of attacks at his disposal, all of which are thrown with lightning speed and thumping power. Perhaps his best striking tool is his ability to find damaging body strikes, whether it be with a left hook that digs to the body or a leg kick thrown with zero telegraph in front. This striking tool will be a pivotal component to implement early on in this fight given his opponent has shown to be susceptible to wearing body strikes, so throwing the best strike against a weak point early will help Fiziev control the direction of the fight as it progresses, a pivotal component to success.

The other critical component of success in this fight is takedown defense. The longer the fight stays standing, the greater Fiziev can separate in a positive manner. The benefit, for him, is that he has impeccable takedown defense. But, if he somehow finds his way to his back whether it be a slip done when kicking or if Gamrot times a perfect takedown, getting up may be a fight-losing struggle.

Taking Fiziev to the mat is the likely gameplan of the impeccable wrestler, Mateusz Gamrot. His wrestling acumen approaches the top of MMA as he successfully wrestled elite of elite wrestlers, Arman Tsarukyan and Beneil Dariush (although lost the fight). In those fights, he had a combined 40 takedowns attempted which is an astronomical number but displays his relentless commitment to the grappling attack, and more importantly, the cardio needed to shoot that many takedowns.

In this fight, where Arman and Dariush were perhaps more willing to give up a takedown to create a scramble and/or trusted their ability to get up off the canvas, Fiziev will likely put all effort into stuffing takedowns, so while Gamrot has the track record of success against elite grapplers, he may find it more challenging here than anticipated.

If Gamrot cannot consistently find success wrestling Fiziev, the good thing for him is that he does have powerful striking. And, while some may state powerful striking cannot beat the elite technician that is Rafael Fiziev on the feet, there is a proven pathway to success shown by Justin Gaethje, a power striker in his own right. That blueprint is throwing leg kicks, landing power, and perhaps most importantly, showcasing no fear in standing toe-to-toe against the elite striker of Fiziev. Gamrot has the skills necessary to do the technical techniques Gaethje displayed, and he has shown the quote-on-quote dog in him, so if standing, it should be closer than perhaps expected.

The odds in this fight are spot on. Rafael Fiziev’s elite takedown defense, an electrifying arsenal of strikes, and lessons learned from the Justin Gaethje defeat warrant the slight favorite over a powerful, relentless wrestler of Mateusz Gamrot who holds wins over several dangerous lightweight contenders. So, when odds are this sharp, there is little value on the ML side. Because of this, I am electing to pick rounds prop of o3.5 rounds because Gamrot’s key to victory is by wrestling and depleting the cardio of Fiziev, and for Fiziev, his finishes typically come late in the fight if at all, so o3.5 presents value even at a price of -155.

Best Bet: Over 3.5 rounds (-155)

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The post Rafael Fiziev vs Mateusz Gamrot staff predictions | UFC Vegas 79 appeared first on The Body Lock.

Gamrot is 32 years old, ranked #7 in the lightweight division, and has only lost twice in his career, both in the UFC. Gamrot’s UFC record is bookended with losses, his debut via split decision and most recently by unanimous decision. In between those losses, Gamrot is 4-0 with three finishes and a decision win that contended for Fight of the Year in 2022.

Turner is 27 years old, ranked #10, and also only has two UFC losses. He dropped his debut via KO to Vicente Luque and lost a decision two fights later. Since then, Turner is on a five-fight winning streak, all of which have come via finish.

Gamrot vs. Turner is one of the many exciting fights on this weekend’s UFC 285 PPV main card. Order the PPV now on ESPN+ to watch Jones vs. Gane, Shevchenko vs. Grasso, and more.

Despite stepping in on short notice, Gamrot is the favorite in this fight.

Interestingly, his odds are drastically different depending on the book. His lowest odds are -170 while his highest are -230. A .50 difference in price on a fighter is rare and will likely change.

• Gamrot: -200 (MyBookie)
• Turner: +180 (MyBookie)

Gamrot is a well-rounded fighter who can win and win impressively no matter where the fight goes; but, his primary path to victory is through his wrestling. Gamrot is an athletic, strong, and well-schooled wrestler who shoots takedowns with intelligence and explosion.

His defensive wrestling is of the same vein, steeped in technique and athleticism, Gamrot’s ability to scramble out of positions is truly special. Once on the mat, Gamrot continues to uniquely combine skill and physical talent with his ability to hit sweeps, reversals, and position changes against even the highest level of grapplers. Once he gets into position, Gamrot is aggressive on top and looks for ground and pound quickly.

Because his grappling is so impressive, and often a clear advantage over his opponent, he is willing to take more risks on the mat. If his opponent takes advantage of Gamrot going for the finish over position and gets up, Gamrot jumps right back on the pressure and looks for a mat return. His cardio, elite, allows him to wrestle and wrestle with pressure for as long as the fight goes.

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On the feet, Gamrot has snipers for hands and hits with power. Just like his wrestling, Gamrot’s striking combines fundamentals, with explosion and pressure. He uses pressure to his advantage by pushing forward behind his jab. Then, when an opponent fires back, Gamrot eats it, slips it, or blocks it, and returns with a heavy cross of his own. The issues Gamrot has faced have come against fighters who can stuff the early takedown, force Gamrot off his rhythm, and out-volume him on the feet.

Turner is massive for the weight class and knows how to use his size to his advantage. He has a long and rangy style that he uses to keep opponents on the end of a stiff 1-2 combination.

His strikes, despite his size and legitimate power, are thrown with speed and heat. He has little wasted movement in his striking and tends to land with a high level of accuracy. Typically, fighters with such speed and power have lower volume; but, Turner is one of the rare fighters who pushes a high pace and lands with emphasis throughout the entire fight.

Turner, while striking, is able to impressively combine technical, smooth, and powerful kickboxing. In the grappling department, something that will likely be tested in this fight, Turner’s size and defensive submissions help him keep the fight standing. He boasts 80% takedown defense but his ability is more steeped in his ability to use the cage, spread his legs, post, and use leverage created by his size advantage.

More dangerous, though, are his defensive submissions, specifically his choke game. When opponents lazily shoot takedowns, Turner is adept at reversing position, taking the back, and locking up a choke of his own. To put it simply, offensively, Turner is a fight-ender on the feet and with his choke game.

Defensively, though, is where Turner has yet to answer questions. He has been backed up into the cage, can succumb, at times, to pressure, and can struggle in dirty boxing matches. Fight after fight, though, during his five-fight winning streak, Turner has shown an impressive evolution.

Prediction and Betting Guide

The first variable that I’d like to address in this fight is the strength of schedule.

Turner has lost to the only top 10 level of talent he’s faced, and Gamrot has only beaten 1 of the 2 top 10 level of fighters he’s faced as well. Both men are undoubtedly highly skilled and ranked fighters; but, neither man has proven it consistently against a tough level of competition.

Specifically to this matchup, Gamrot will likely look to use his pressure and ability to close distance to mitigate Turner’s size and preferred fight. Meanwhile, Turner will look to use his size and defensive submissions to keep the fight standing. This fight should be razor-thin but both men have the tools to win it.

I’m on Turner here. I like his size, power, and ability to land with such speed against a linear opponent. So long as he isn’t rag-dolled, Turner should land the more powerful and damaging shots.

Best Bet: Turner to win (+180 odds at MyBookie)

The post UFC 285 Prediction: Mateusz Gamrot vs. Jalin Turner betting guide appeared first on The Body Lock.

Turner was originally scheduled to face Dan Hooker, but Hooker withdrew due to a hand injury. Instead of waiting for another opponent, Turner agreed to step up and face Gamrot, who is ranked #7 in the UFC lightweight rankings.

“I just wanted to stay on the card. I want to fight, you know? And then at the same time, I was like, who better to attempt to test my grappling accolades against than Gamrot?” Turner told CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri.

Gamrot is a former two-division champion in KSW, a Polish MMA promotion. He is known for his relentless pressure and wrestling skills and has secured victories against Arman Tsarukyan, Carlos Diego Ferreira, and Jeremy Stephens in the UFC.

Turner admits that taking Gamrot on short notice is not the wisest decision, but he is confident in his abilities and his goals.

“I mean, honestly, no, but I don’t look at it that way. I’m chasing greatness. So we’re going to see what we learn from this. Or if I get it all done how I anticipate the fight to go, we just go from there. And I just want to keep rising in the rankings anyway. So why not fight number seven instead of sitting back and waiting for somebody lower-ranked anyway?” Turner told Mahjouri.

Turner’s confidence comes from his striking prowess and his recent improvements in his grappling game. He has won three of his last five fights in the UFC by knockout or submission.

“I don’t fear any man that can bleed. We all bleed the same. I’ve always been that way. I’ve always prided myself on that. I just didn’t want to make a career of being that guy to fight whoever all the time. I want to be a champion. I have set goals.” Turner said.

Turner will have a chance to prove himself against Gamrot at UFC 285: Jones vs Gane, which will take place on March 4 at the T-Mobile Arena facility in Paradise, Nevada. The main event will feature Jon Jones making his heavyweight debut against Ciryl Gane for the UFC heavyweight title.

UFC 285 will be shown live on pay-per-view in the United States. Fans can order the ESPN+ PPV here to watch every fight live on Saturday night.

The post Why Jalin Turner accepted a short-notice fight against Mateusz Gamrot at UFC 285 appeared first on The Body Lock.

Dariush vs. Gamrot will take place at the starting end of the five-fight main card just moments before Charles Oliveira vs. Islam Makhachev, Aljamain Sterling vs. TJ Dillashaw, and Petr Yan vs. Sean O’Malley. Because the fight card will take place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, the event will stream at a special afternoon time in the United States only on ESPN+ PPV.

The Dariush vs. Gamrot fight certainly doesn’t have the same stakes as others on the main card, but it has the potential to shake up the lightweight division dramatically. Dariush is currently ranked #6 in the division after an impressive seven-fight win streak that most recently saw him earn a unanimous decision victory against Tony Ferguson. Gamrot has jumped up the #9 spot in the rankings following his four-fight win streak and a decision victory against Arman Tsarukyan in June.

Oddsmakers have the veteran, Dariush, as the underdog before UFC 280. He’s available at odds of +155, whereas Gamrot is listed as a -190 favorite. But do UFC fighters agree with the odds? James Lynch asked fighters for their Dariush vs. Gamrot predictions before UFC 280 this weekend.

Order UFC 280 PPV

UFC 280 is a PPV event hosted in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and will air at a special time in the United States. See below for full details about the fight start time and also how to watch the event live on ESPN+ PPV.

• Date: Saturday, October 22
• Time: PPV Main Card starts at 2 pm ET, Prelims start at 10 am ET
• Watch: ESPN+ PPV (order here)

Order UFC 280 on the ESPN+ website to watch every main card fight live, including Oliveira vs. Makhachev, Sterling vs. Dillashaw, Yan vs. O’Malley, and all other fights. After ordering, fans can stream every UFC 280 fight to a preferred device, including TVs, mobiles, computers, laptops, tablets, and more.

Dariush vs. Gamrot predictions

Neil Magny

“I can’t pick against Beneil. He’s one of those OG’s and one of those guys that shows up time and time again. He’s right there where he needs to be. He’s top five now. He’s finally getting the recognition that he deserved for a long time. He’s going to go out there and prove to a lot of people why he belongs there in the top five and should be fighting for a title soon.” (via James Lynch – MMA Pros Pick)

Chase Hooper

“That’s a fun one. I’m going to take Dariush just for the experience. He’s just such a vet.” (via James Lynch – MMA Pros Pick)

Max Griffin

“Dariush man. He’s a dark horse. He’s really good. He’s real slick, doesn’t look too menacing but he’ll put you away, hands, feet, jits, I think he’s very well-rounded, and so is Gamrot, that’s a very good fight. But Beneil, I think he got kind of cheated out of some opportunity or something like that with the Makhachev stuff. I’m going Dariush.” (via James Lynch – MMA Pros Pick)

Garrett Armfield

“I’m going to go Gamrot. I was really impressed by his last performance. It was a really technical performance against Arman. That was a very technical fight, and I think he’s going to get the job done.” (via James Lynch – MMA Pros Pick)

Jordan Wright

“I really like Dariush a lot. I really, really want to see his fight with Islam. It’s a shame that didn’t happen. But I think I’m going to go with Dariush.” (via James Lynch – MMA Pros Pick)

Josh Fremd

“I’m going to go with Gamrot. I think he’s an absolute stud. Dariush is also very, very good. It sucks in this game only one person gets to win but that’s how it goes. I’m going with Gamrot.” (via James Lynch – MMA Pros Pick)

Nate Maness

“I’m going with Gamrot, man. I think he’s a dark horse. I think it’ll be the fight of the night. It’ll go back-and-forth, and it’ll be a close decision whoever wins.” (via James Lynch – MMA Pros Pick)

Steve Garcia

“I gotta give it to Dariush. I feel like they’ve put him off so much, and I think like that he’s just had it now, and he’s done being questioned now, and he’s going to get to that title shot. I think he’s going to get it done, so I gotta go with Dariush. There’s no denying him.” (via James Lynch – MMA Pros Pick)

The post UFC fighters pick Beneil Dariush vs. Mateusz Gamrot winner | UFC 280 appeared first on The Body Lock.

UFC on ESPN: Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot marks the UFC’s return to the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, following two consecutive events on the road. Last week’s event, UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Emmett, took place in Austin, Texas, in front of a sell-out crowd.

Twelve fights are scheduled for tonight’s UFC on ESPN 38 fight card. The main event sees two ranked, up-and-coming fighters clash in a five-round lightweight battle.

Prelims commence at 7:00 pm ET.

It's Saturday and you know that that means…𝐈𝐓'𝐒 𝐅𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐃𝐀𝐘

#UFCVegas57 kicks off at 7pmET LIVE on ESPN2!

[ Prelims 7pmET on ESPN2 | Main Card 10pmET on @ESPN | B2YB @Anuel_2bleA ] pic.twitter.com/WjyZD8aODe

— UFC (@ufc) June 25, 2022

UFC on ESPN 38 Results

Main Card – 10:00 pm ET / 7:00 pm PT

• Mateusz Gamrot def. Arman Tsarukyan via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
• Shavkat Rakhmonov def. Neil Magny via submission (guillotine choke) – R2, 4:58
• Josh Parisian def. Alan Baudot via TKO (punches) – R2, 3:04
• Thiago Moises def. Christos Giagos via submission (rear-naked choke) – R1, 3:05
• Umar Nurmagomedov def. Nate Maness via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-25)
• Chris Curtis def. Rodolfo Vieira via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Prelims – 7:00 pm ET / 4:00 pm PT

• Carlos Ulberg def. Tafon Nchukwi via TKO (punches) – R1, 1:15
• Shayilan Nuerdanbieke def. TJ Brown via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Sergey Morozov def. Raulian Paiva via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Cody Durden def. JP Buys via TKO (punches) – R1, 1:08
• Mario Bautista def. Brian Kelleher via submission (rear-naked choke) – R1, 2:27
• Vanessa Demopoulos def. Jinh Yu Frey via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)

Video Highlights

Two Nurmagomedovs in one walk… #UFCVegas57 pic.twitter.com/r3Ihks88iS

— UFC (@ufc) June 26, 2022

The Black Jag POUNCED for the 1st RD finish

[ @UlbergCarlos | #UFCVegas57 ]
pic.twitter.com/hwWbsOijSY

— UFC (@ufc) June 26, 2022

Statement = made

[ @Cody_Durden | #UFCVegas57 ] pic.twitter.com/VezOrunEiW

— UFC (@ufc) June 26, 2022

CLEAN, CLEAN, performance by @Bautista_MMA!

Early domination to get the RD 1 finish! #UFCVegas57 pic.twitter.com/zKc6vfcdaB

— UFC (@ufc) June 25, 2022

The post UFC on ESPN 38 Results: Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot highlights appeared first on The Body Lock.

Tsarukyan (18-2) is undefeated in his last five fights in the UFC, recently defeating Joel Alvarez and Christos Giagos by TKO. Those wins helped him move up to #11 in the UFC lightweight rankings and he’ll now defend that spot against Mateusz Gamrot who is ranked one spot below him at #12.

Gamrot (20-1) enters this main event fight after winning all three of his last bouts in the UFC. His recent victories include a knockout win against Carlos Diego Ferreira and a submission win against Jeremy Stephens.

Betting Odds

Arman Tsarukyan will enter as the betting favorite this weekend with odds of -300 against underdog Mateusz Gamrot at odds of +220.

• Arman Tsarukyan: -300 (BetUS)
• Mateusz Gamrot: +220 (BetUS)

Breakdown

Arman Tsarukyan is THE prospect to keep your eye on within the lightweight division. At just 25-year-old, Arman is only getting better fight over the fight which is a scary proposition knowing just how elite he already is. Moreover, barring losing his second professional fight, his lone loss came at the hands of Islam Makhachev; interestingly, in that fight, Arman put forth an impressive performance that showed moments that they were at the same level; and, knowing this fight took place at the beginning of 2019, justifies many believing the rapidly improving Arman is perhaps the best test for the Khabib protégé in the near future.

Knowing the lightweight division is stacked with elite prospects, the UFC is beginning to separate the talent tier. Perhaps the most notable instance of this took place in Arman’s last fight, as he fought fellow prospect, Joel Alvarez. Leading up to this fight, there were many believing the size, power, and elite submission game of Alvarez would allow him to upset Arman. But, once the fight doors closed, Arman showed he was levels above Alvarez.

In that fight, Arman showed trust that his truly elite wrestling would prevent any danger thrown up by Alvarez on the back. Moreover, he showcased confident and impressive kickboxing, using speed and movement to land effective blows to all levels of the body. After this fight ensued, Arman showed everybody watching what it means to, from an elite level, combine striking into grappling and vice versa. All in all, I believe, knowing he is continually fine-tuning his elite well-rounded skills as a fighter, that Arman is, right now, a top 5 lightweight.

While Arman uses elite wrestling combined with speed-driven kickboxing, Gamrot uses impressive wrestling with damaging power. The interesting aspect of Garmot’s fight game is his ability to wrestle without needing to chain it together off of striking – this is perhaps unsurprising knowing he is a European Champion in submission wrestling. So, being able to successfully shoot in on a takedown, primarily done via a single-leg attack, accompanied by having the wherewithal to take the most advantageous position once on the mat, makes Gamrot one of the most slept-on grapplers in the UFC.

Although Gamrot somewhat relentlessly pursues the takedown, as alluded to prior, he does have striking at his disposal. The form at which he fights on the feet is levels above a typical wrestle-heavy fighter, but it is below that of a seamless, technical striker. More specifically, he uses movement well and understands how to set up shots to land the most powerful blow cleanly. The power strikes thrown are predominantly with his hands, and he does a very good job mixing combinations to the head and body equally.

In total, Gamrot’s intelligence to mix up his striking coupled with knowing his opponent is likely thinking about when the next takedown is going to be shot allows him to have success on the feet throughout the duration of the fight. The only identifiable issue, and one where I am grasping at straws to find, is that he showed to slow somewhat in his last fight, which if done in this fight, will be an exacerbated concern.

Prediction

In three years, I fully expect Arman and Gamrot to be ranked in the top five of the division. This belief is built on the fact both are talented, well-rounded fighters that are dangerous no matter the position of the fight. With that said, I believe Arman’s skills everywhere are just that notch better with regard to speed and technique. Because of this, I expect Arman to win quite comfortably given he is the higher-end talent in every fight position. Even though I have this expectation, Gamrot has the necessary skills to put forth a legitimate performance that will show he is worthy of top 5 consideration in the near future. As such, I believe Arman will win a confident decision victory.

Pick: Arman Tsarukyan to win by decision

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Gamrot vs. Ferreira betting odds

Gamrot has grown to a nearly 2:1 favorite since the lines opened.

• Gamrot: -190
• Ferreira: +155

Gamrot vs. Ferreira Breakdown

Gamrot is one of those rare fighters whose well-roundedness is not a criticism. Often, “well-rounded” fighters are solid everywhere but great nowhere. Gamrot is solid everywhere but has also shown sparks of special. He has snipers for hands that combine precision and power. Gamrot is a dedicated and successful wrestler, both offensively and defensively. Lastly, on the feet or on the mat, Gamrot is adept at hunting the finish without putting himself in a compromising position. Statistically, Gamrot has a 4.1 to 2.1 positive significant strike differential, he averages 5.3 takedowns per fight, and defends 100% of opponent attempts. I’ve been impressed by “Gamer,” specifically by his ability to combine explosive striking with explosive wrestling while still maintaining a high fight IQ and a deep gas tank. The only real question with Gamrot, the same question many high-end prospects face, is what happens when he faces adversity? With his natural skill and technical credentials, I feel he’ll respond well.

Despite being on a two-fight losing streak, Ferreira is still ranked and a tough fight for anyone overlooking him. Ferreira is a strong and athletic grappler, has high-level BJJ, and is willing to go to the mat, even in guard, to initiate a scramble. On the feet, Ferreira is solid but unexceptional. He maintains a positive strike differential and a respectable output; but, only lands his strikes at a 37% clip. His typical fight style is to strike enough to close the distance, get the fight against the cage, cause a clinch, and end up in his world- on the mat. Once on the mat, Ferreira is adept at snatching submissions, even from bottom position, or flipping position and grinding out a decision. In either case, Ferreira is comfortable and successful in the clinch and on the ground.

Gamrot vs. Ferreira prediction

Common sense would tell you that Gamrot should be able to stay at range and land strikes with precision for as long as it takes to get the win. But, we’ve seen fighters avoid the path of least resistance in favor of their tendency. For Gamrot, that is wrestling. If he wrestles Ferreira, Gamrot needs to be cautious of submissions, specifically chokes. But, his wrestling pedigree and fight IQ give me confidence that even if he chooses to grapple, Gamrot will secure the win. I prefer him in parlays since his path to victory is varied; but, I like his aggressiveness to hunt and get the finish.

Prediction: Gamrot by finish

The post Carlos Diego Ferreira vs. Mateusz Gamrot prediction, betting odds appeared first on The Body Lock.

The pair will compete in their third bout against one another, with Gamrot leading the series 1-0, 1 NC, in the main event of the Polish promotion’s first event back amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to the event, The Body Lock was able to ask several questions of Gamrot and recent developments in his career.

Gamrot analyzed the matchup with Parke, explained his recent absence from active MMA competition, and shared his desire to compete in the UFC.

The written question-and-answer has been included below, lightly edited for clarity.

Fiedel: KSW 53 marks your anticipated return to the cage after a nearly 20-month absence from fighting. What led to such a long break from MMA, and how does it feel to be back in another Fight Week again?

Gamrot: “At the beginning, I was negotiating with the KSW and this took almost a year. I was supposed to return to the cage in March, against a Brazilian opponent, but then COVID-19 happened. So, that’s pretty much why I didn’t fight for so long. But I guarantee, I haven’t wasted any of those days, improving every day to be the best.”

Fiedel: KSW is returning now amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has in many countries brought things to a standstill. How have you been during the quarantine, and how have COVID-19 restrictions changed your daily life and training?

Gamrot: “COVID-19 stopped the whole world. Our lives slowed down, but I found positives in this madness. I spend more time with my family. I was training outdoors, focusing on boxing and motor skills.”

Fiedel: Did you have any concerns about fighting during the pandemic? What rules and protocols has KSW put together ahead of this event? Have you been tested for the coronavirus? If so, could you describe your experience being tested ahead of the fight?

Gamrot: “There are no concerns on my side. I follow the restrictions and live a healthy life. I’m sure I will be tested before the event.”

Fiedel: During your absence from the KSW cage, many reports surfaced that appeared to claim that you were interested in fighting for the UFC, or that there were problems with your contract with KSW. Could you explain a little bit more about your negotiations with KSW, and whether you plan on signing with the UFC after your next fight or in the future?

Gamrot: “I’m happy how things turned out with KSW. At last, I’m going to have two more fights for them and after that, I’m going to be a free agent. My goal is to go to the UFC and compete against the best in the world. Big up to KSW, I’m thankful.”

Fiedel: Following your next fight, what is your contract status with KSW? Do you have any fights left on your deal, and is there a “champions” clause in your contract that keeps you under the KSW banner as long as you have a title there?

Gamrot: “I have a temporary deal with the KSW, which consists of two fights. I hope I will sign with the UFC by the end of the year.”

Fiedel: You are a two-weight champion with KSW, holding both the featherweight and lightweight titles in the promotion. What led you to decide to move down to featherweight and fight Kleber Koike Erbst for a second title in a new weight class?

Gamrot: “I had an offer to fight for the featherweight belt while being the lightweight champion. It never happened before in this organization, so I took it. My everyday shape and weight were at such level that I could go down to featherweight without problems.”

Fiedel: Would you ever return to featherweight to defend that title? In our recent interview with KSW boss Martin Lewandowski, he said it was unlikely that you would return to featherweight. Is that accurate?

Gamrot: “I’m staying at lightweight. That’s where I feel like a beast.”

Fiedel: While you were away from KSW, the promotion named two interim champions – Norman Parke at lightweight, Saladine Parnasse at featherweight. You are set to fight Parke in your third fight together on July 11. How do you feel about the fight, and about Parke as a competitor?

Gamrot: “Norman, as a sportsman is a solid fighter. He beat all of his polish opponents, except me. He puts a lot of pressure and has a strong chin, but that’s it. After competing against him twice, i know what to expect – it’s gonna be easy money.”

Fiedel: There’s a lot of bad blood between you and Parke. Why do you think the animosity between you two is there? Do you think it has to do with the results of your first two fights, one of which you won and the other of which was a No Contest following the “biting” incident?

Gamrot: “I think he can’t handle losing to me twice. That’s why he’s emotional and aggressive toward me.”

Fiedel: Having fought Parke twice already, how would you describe his fighting style and ability? How do you see this fight playing out, on the feet or on the ground? Finally, what is your official prediction for the fight?

Gamrot: “He’s tough and keeps moving forward. That’s it. Your head doesn’t get stronger with the amount of punches you take, so I will knock him out or submit him on the ground.”

Fiedel: In addition to MMA, you have also pursued submission grappling in recent months, including facing off with Garry Tonon at the ADCC championships. What was the ADCC experience like, and did training grappling so extensively to prepare for those matches give you any new perspectives or strategies when grappling in MMA?

Gamrot: “It was an amazing experience. ADCC Worlds is like a Champion’s League in BJJ, so I’m proud I could compete there twice. Garry Tonon is my idol and I watch all of his matches. I wasn’t lucky with the brackets, but I’m happy I could fight against the best.”

Fiedel: Poland is a country that has produced a large number of top fighters, including foreigner UFC champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk, light heavyweight contender Jan Blachowicz, KSW legend Mamed Khalidov, and many more, including you. With promotions like KSW, FEN, Babilon MMA, and many others, what is the MMA scene like in Poland? Do you believe you will be the next Polish fighter to break into the mainstream?

Gamrot: “Polish MMA is top level. We have the mentality of real warriors and we always fight to the end. When I sign with the UFC, I will be the champion there.”

Fiedel: You’re now 29-years-old and 15-0, 1 NC in your career as a professional fighter, holding two titles in KSW. Following your bout with Parke, what’s next for you? Are there any contenders in KSW you’d like to face? Would you like to move on to the UFC or another promotion? If so, where?

Gamrot: “So far, the only thing that is on my mind is fighting Norman Parke. After KSW 53 we can talk about the future.”

Fiedel: What is your ultimate ambition for your career? Who, if any fighters come to mind, would be your “dream fights,” or ideal matchups?

Gamrot: “I want to be the best in the world! I know I’ve got what it takes to achieve that.”

The post KSW 53: Mateusz Gamrot calls trilogy match against Norman Parke “easy money,” hopes to sign with UFC “by the end of the year” appeared first on The Body Lock.