Mateusz Gamrot acknowledges he faces a significant challenge this weekend, but he expressed a desire to eventually step into the octagon with Paddy Pimblett.
Gamrot is scheduled to compete against Ludovit Klein in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 107 on Saturday at the UFC APEX. The former KSW champion is looking to rebound from a split-decision defeat to Dan Hooker, which earned Fight of the Night honors at UFC 305 last July.
Since Gamrot’s last fight, the landscape of the lightweight division has shifted considerably. Islam Makhachev moved up after vacating the title, Ilia Topuria is set to contend for the vacant belt against Charles Oliveira at UFC 317, and Paddy Pimblett has seen his profile rise dramatically following a decisive stoppage victory over Michael Chandler at UFC 314.
“The lightweight division is the most dangerous and the best division,” Gamrot told MMA Fighting. “Things are constantly moving every month. I’m not surprised Islam moved up. He beat everyone in the lightweight division, so he wants to go for a second belt.”
“However, Paddy Pimblett, I don’t care for this guy. He talks too much, and he’s had a very easy path to becoming a star. Everyone thinks he deserves a title shot, but ultimately, that’s a UFC decision, and they will choose.”
“To be honest, my focus right now is on this upcoming fight. I want to get the win, deliver a really good performance, and stay active this year. I want to fight again soon, and if things go according to plan, next year will be huge for me.”
Pimblett finished Chandler in the third round with heavy ground and pound at the UFC’s April pay-per-view event. While “The Baddy’s” performance impressed many, Gamrot wasn’t surprised by the outcome, primarily due to the opponent.
“It was a good performance, but you can always put on a good performance when your opponent is retreating, when the guy isn’t doing anything,” Gamrot stated. “The best version of Chandler was maybe five or seven years ago. Right now, he was so easy for him. I think Chandler is easy for everyone in the lightweight division now. So I’m not surprised he looked the way he did.”
“But I still believe Paddy Pimblett is an easy fight. If he faces some truly high-level opponents, he will have trouble in those fights.”
Gamrot’s loss to Hooker ended a three-fight winning streak. He enters Saturday’s bout with a 7-2 record in his last nine appearances. His opponent, Ludovit Klein, has quietly compiled a seven-fight unbeaten streak.
Gamrot anticipates a massive year in 2025, starting with a victory over Klein. Eventually, he hopes to secure a fight with Pimblett to demonstrate to fans that the rising star might not be as skilled as perceived.
“I think I would be a nightmare for him,” Gamrot commented. “I would love to meet him in the octagon, and I think it will happen in the future. He enjoys striking now, but he’s fundamentally a grappler, which is a great stylistic matchup for me. When we meet, it will be a great fight, but I’m confident I’ll finish him on the ground because I see him making many mistakes there, and I have the tools to win.”
“My previous opponents were always strikers, so the ground was where I could really shine and show my best. But if I get someone who enjoys the ground game and is willing to scramble with me, then brother, I am truly dangerous there.”
