Charles Oliveira’s long-awaited homecoming after five years is still on track. Originally, the Brazilian star was scheduled to face #10-ranked Rafael Fiziev at UFC Rio on October 11. But when an injury forced the Azerbaijani contender out, the promotion scrambled to find a replacement. Rumors swirled about Benoit Saint Denis and Arman Tsarukyan stepping up, but in the end, Mateusz Gamrot finally got his wish.
The Polish lightweight will now meet the former champion on less than three weeks’ notice inside the Farmasi Arena in Rio. And judging by his reaction, it’s safe to say Gamrot couldn’t be happier with the opportunity.
Mateusz Gamrot vs. Charles Oliveira Carries Major Title Implications at 155lbs
Gamrot’s ecstasy is natural as there were doubts on this bout becoming official. This was because Oliveira seemed reluctant to face him, instead pushing for another high-profile striking matchup. With Gamrot being an elite grappler, the Brazilian didn’t want to risk his chances. But this time, Oliveira did not get what he wanted.
At 35, the former champion enters the fight just four months removed from a brutal first-round knockout loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 317, a defeat that raised concerns about his quick turnaround. On the other side, Gamrot’s reaction to the matchup has gone viral.
One of his coaches, Lukasz Zaborowski, recorded the exact moment his fighter learned he would headline his fourth UFC card. Gamrot’s response was pure amazement mixed with disbelief. He let out a long “whoaaaaaa!” before saying something in his native Polish and hopping out of the car, pacing around the parking lot to celebrate.
ALSO READ: TKO COO Mark Shapiro Details the Sticking Point That Killed UFC’s Netflix Negotiations
🤣🇧🇷 The moment Mateusz Gamrot found out that he is fighting Charles Oliveira in Brazil in less than 3 weeks.
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) September 23, 2025
The Polish contender has quietly built a strong resume at lightweight, going 4-1 in his last five fights. He most recently earned a unanimous decision over Ludovit Klein at UFC Vegas 107 and is a perfect 3-0 in UFC main events.
The announcement was made by Oliveira on the UFC Brasil channel, where he made the proceedings official. “Mateusz Gamrot, that’s the guy we’re going to war with. The rest [of the fighters] just wanted hype, they just wanted to talk nonsense,” he said.
As already stated, the 35-year-old is set to fight in Brazil for the first time since March 2020. The UFC’s all-time leader in finishes, submissions, and performance bonuses has gone 3-3 in his last six outings.
UFC Rio will not only mark his long-awaited return to Brazil, but also his first fight in Rio de Janeiro since 2009, giving the hometown crowd a rare chance to cheer on one of their most beloved former champions. For Gamrot, a win over Oliveira would finally push him into the Top 5 conversation and potentially place him on the doorstep of a title shot.
UFC Rio Card Takes Shape with Charles Oliveira vs. Mateusz Gamrot in Main Event
- Charles Oliveira vs. Mateusz Gamrot (Lightweight)
- Deiveson Figueiredo vs. Montel Jackson (Bantamweight)
- Jhonata Diniz vs. Mario Pinto (Heavyweight)
- Vicente Luque vs. Joel Alvarez (Welterweight)
- Gabriel Bonfim vs. Randy Brown (Welterweight)
- Clayton Carpenter vs. Jafel Filho (Flyweight)
- Thomas Petersen vs. Vitor Petrino (Heavyweight)
- Stewart Nicoll vs. Lucas Rocha (Flyweight)
- Karolina Kowalkiewicz vs. Julia Polastri (Strawweight)
- Mohammed Usman vs. Valter Walker (Heavyweight)
- Kaan Ofli vs. Ricardo Ramos (Featherweight)
- Lucas Almeida vs. Michael Aswell (Flyweight)
