Take a dive into the series, Inside the KSW Vault. Many amazing fighters have spent years perfecting their craft and showcasing their skills on the premier stage for European MMA, KSW. Follow along as we take a look at the many fighters, and events, past and present, which have contributed to making KSW what it is today. Check out these previous installments of the series:
Mateusz Gamrot
For years Mateusz Gamrot has been lighting up the Polish and European MMA scene with his dominating style of fighting. It only took “Gamer” three fights to show the KSW brass he was ready to become Poland’s next big fighter. Many fans of the sport may have only recently learned of the talent and skill Gamrot possesses. The hardcore fans and Polish MMA fans have known for years that Gamrot’s current run in the UFC lightweight division would be no surprise.
Run in KSW
Prior to entering the UFC in 2020, Gamrot would go on a stellar 13-0 (1 No Contest) run in KSW while earning “double champ” status in the organization’s featherweight and lightweight divisions. It all started at KSW 23 with a second-round TKO in June 2013. Winning an additional six bouts (one of those in Cage Warriors) Gamrot would find himself with a shot at the KSW lightweight vacant title against Mansour Barnaoui at KSW 35 in May 2016. After dominating the three rounds of action, Gamrot would capture the lightweight title, a crown he would possess until he vacated to join the UFC nearly four years later.
KSW’s Biggest Stage Ever
Many will refer to the UFC as the “biggest stage” an MMA fighter can compete on. Any fighter on the KSW 39 card will beg to differ. This card would go down as the second-largest attended MMA event in history with 57,766 fans in attendance. With every championship on the line, Gamrot would defeat UFC veteran Norman Parke in the first of their three meetings. Five months later, Gamrot would share a “no contest” with Parke at KSW 40 in Dublin after an accidental eye poke.
KSW’s First “Double Champ” and Closing Out KSW Career
Just two fights after the “no contest” with Parke, Gamrot would make KSW history at KSW 46. In the night’s co-main event of action, Gamrot would go five rounds with dangerous featherweight Kleber Koike Erbst for the vacant featherweight title. The win would mark his 11th-straight victory and crown him as a pound-for-pound favourite in not only KSW but of any fighter outside of the major organizations. After winning the featherweight title, Gamrot’s next defence would be for his lightweight title against familiar foe, Norman Parke at KSW 53. Putting a decisive end to their feud, Gamrot would earn the third-round TKO via doctor stoppage. Our last glance at Gamrot in the KSW cage would come at KSW 54 in August 2020 when he would defeat future champion, Marian Ziolkowski, via unanimous decision.
Running up the UFC Ladder
With relocating organizations came a relocation of training camps. Gamrot would look to improve his talents at one of the top teams in the world with American Top Team in Florida. Gamrot’s big UFC debut would come against Guram Kutateladze in October 2020. This bout would be Gamrot’s first loss of his career, be it an extremely close split decision that could have gone either way. In an article with this same author at MyMMANews, Gamrot stated, “I don’t think that I have to change a lot in my training because I don’t think that I lost my last fight. But losing on points only gave me more motivation!! Now I have even more fire and determination to dominate in The Octagon! Now I trained under The legendary Mike Brown and I’m looking forward to my fight!”
Not letting the debut get him down, Gamrot has won all four bouts since with three of those four by decision. Victories include wins over UFC veterans like Jeremey Stephens and Diego Ferreira. The future looks bright for the former KSW double champion as he currently sits in the #9 spot in the UFC’s lightweight division. Could Gamrot become the next KSW veteran to become a worldwide star?
