Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mateusz Gamrot had to be competitive and it delivered on those expectations. Gamrot picked up a unanimous decision victory over Tsarukyan at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday night.
Saturday’s headliners dismissed the notion that wrestling is boring. Gamrot and Tsarukyan put on an exciting wrestling show filled with counters and shoves. Tsarukyan generally landed the hardest punches, but Gamrot seemed like the fresher fighter in the later rounds.
Tsarkuyan and Gamrot engaged in dynamic wrestling exchanges in the first round, regularly canceling each other out. Tsarukyan grabbed a kick at the two-minute mark of the round and defeated Gamrot. The Polish fighter used spirited rolls from Granby to switch positions and eventually get back on his feet. Tsarukyan partly landed a head kick but Gamrot took it well. Tsarukyan also found success with body kicks.
Gamrot came out more aggressive on lap two. He took the center of the Octagon and opened up with his boxing. Tsarukyan appeared to land with a left hook, but Gamrot responded with a low kick. Tsarukyan stuck Gamrot with a body kick that echoed through the UFC Apex. Gamrot defended a one-legged low takedown and forced Tsarukyan to let go with a few punches. Late in the round, Tsarukyan landed a kick into the midsection that briefly backed up Gamrot. Gamrot landed a nice punch in the closing moments, but it probably didn’t secure him the round.
Tsarukyan opened Round 3 with an immediate kick to the body. Tsarukyan perfectly timed a hook to the jaw from Gamrot as the Polish fighter went down for a single leg takedown. Tsarukyan seemed to wobble a bit as Gamrot landed a close punch combination. Gamrot quickly followed that up with an offensive struggle, knocking out Tsarukyan twice and briefly taking his back. Tsarukyan ripped off a single leg and angled Gamrot’s leg up, but was rewarded with a firm punch to the face. Tsarukyan regained momentum with a back kick in the midsection and some solid punches up top.
Gamrot continued to find success with boxing, meanwhile Tsarukyan returned to the gold mines which were kicking. Tsarukyan dropped Gamrot with a superb fist in return. Gamrot managed to make the most of a subsequent wrestling exchange before returning to the feet. Gamrot absorbed another excruciating body kick – as evidenced by the blush on his torso – and turned it into a takedown. Gamrot took his back, and Tsarukyan’s leg was stuck behind his own body in a terribly uncomfortable way. The momentum swung in Gamrot’s favor as he looked like the fresher fighter. Unfortunately, he was knocked down earlier this round.
Tsarukyan dropped Gamrot with a leg kick early in the round, but Gamrot managed to get another takedown. Tsarukyan managed to get back on his feet with 2:30 to play. Gamrot landed a wonderful counter right hand as Tsarukyan moved forward. Tsarukyan landed a nice uppercut and Gamrot found home for a right cross. Gamrot concluded the fight with one final takedown for a very thin fifth round. All three judges awarded Gamrot 48-47 scorecards for the unanimous decision victory.
An animated Gamrot expressed his desire to fight the elite lightweights. During his post-fight interview, Gamrot told UFC commentator Michael Bisping that a fight with Justin Gaethje was on top of his head.
“He’s the most violent guy in the division!” Gamrot said.
Gamrot (21-1) now boasts a four-game winning streak over Tsarukyan, Carlos Diego Ferreira, Jeremy Stephens and Scott Holtzman. Tsarukyan (18-3) ended a five-game winning streak dating back to 2019.
