Charles Oliveira Not Keen on Mateusz Gamrot UFC Rio Fight Due To Different ‘Styles’

Charles Oliveira is seeking a particular kind of fight—something that gets him closer to UFC undisputed gold again. Oliveira was to face Rafael Fiziev in his return at UFC Rio (AKA UFC Fight Night: Oliveira vs Fiziev), Live from Farmasi Arena, but that was scrapped. Now, he is head-on on a warpath against another lightweight peer for it: Mateusz Gamrot.

Charles Oliveira was knocked out in his failed attempt to capture the vacant UFC 155-pound gold against champion Ilia Topuria this June. ‘Do Bronx’ was thus angsty on a matchup, that too on home turf, where he’d be fighting in over five years since his 2020 submission over Kevin Lee.

After the UFC Rio main event debacle, many UFC lightweight contenders were seemingly in the running, like Benoit Saint-Denis, whom Oliveira lambasted recently over it. While the Brazilian has been openly criticizing other fighters for refusing to scrap, Mateusz Gamrot seems ready for it and wants to face him on his home territory. However, Oliveira was prepping for a strike-heavy Muay Thai specialist like Fiziev and has certain problems with this switch-up

I was focused on a guy [Fiziev] who comes from a striking background…With two weeks left until the fight, I have to change my whole game plan; It’s complicated…I don’t want to be taken off the card. I asked for this card, I’ve been training like crazy for it…

Charles Oliveira said (🎥: @laertevianamma); H/T: @ChampRDS on X

Oliveira admitted that the #8-ranked pro grappler is a good stylistic matchup for him; however, it would also prompt him to change up his game in camp, mere weeks out. While a massive fan favorite, his attempt to skip past a pro grappling-style fight has received massive backlash on fan forums.

This comes in light of a few different options that have pitched in already, with Oliveira putting fighters on blast. This would be the second time in as many times Gamrot has called him out for a clash and fan forums and chatboards have billed this as not a good look for Charles Oliveira.

Charles Oliveira on a potential fight against Mateusz Gamrot at #UFCRio

"I was focused on a guy who comes from a striking background… with two weeks left until the fight, I have to change my whole gameplan. It's very complicated.

I don't want to be taken off the card. I asked… pic.twitter.com/98V7WYvJR9

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) September 23, 2025

Which in itself should not be the case, as the UFC Rio star is a prolific finisher and submission specialist. Per UFC Record Books (statsleader.ufc.com), Oliveira ties the third-most [T3 at 23] for most wins, is atop the leaderboards with most finishes [20], most submissions at 16, and even most FOTN bonuses in all his trips to the octagon. However, in yet another campaign to fight Do Bronx, Gamrot has labelled Oliveira as being reluctant to face pro-grapplers.

Is the Team Chute Bronx standout really not giving in to his elite jiu-jitsu anymore? Gamrot has doubled down on it.

Mateusz Gamrot ready for UFC Rio, tags opponent Charles Oliveira as afraid for it

UFC Polish 155-pounder Mateusz Gamrot is usually known for his taste in a hard scramble; he’s a former (—70 kg category) winner at the European Amateur MMA Championships. His brand of submission grappling/elite freestyle has pocketed 5 submissions in his pro tenure. ‘Gamer’ is a southpaw adjunct wrestler and has even often gone viral, helping Team ATT mates like Dustin Poirier to sharpen their ground games.

Gamrot is a modest 4-1 in his last few, with a last win coming in June, at UFC Fight Night: Blanchfield vs. Barber. 19 days removed from UFC Rio, the #8-ranked lightweight said he’s ready for it. To that end, he has poked that worried and ‘afraid’ Charles Oliveira was the one who’s halting this short-notice showdown in Rio.

I hear you’re worried about my style, even though you had a full training camp. I had none, and still I’m ready to step into the cage. Two weeks left to prepare– and I’m already in ATT right here. No excuses, let’s do this @CharlesDoBronxs @ufc

— Mateusz Gamrot (@gamer_mma) September 21, 2025

The Lion holds the record for the most ground finishes in the UFC history, he’s afraid to step in with a grappler 😂 pic.twitter.com/pBkeMQZo9x

— Mateusz Gamrot (@gamer_mma) September 22, 2025

Oliveira was criticized online for listing issues and changes in the fight camp if this fight was to happen as the Rio main event at UFC Fight Night 261. It thus has many believing that the former UFC Lightweight champion is not putting stock in his BJJ skills these days.

Oliveira was submitted by former #1 Pound-for-pound Islam Makhachev, which kick-started his title run and grandiose as a P4P great. His transition of the D’Arce choke VS The Anaconda at the UFC 300 PPV card was foiled by Arman Tsarukyan, when he skillfully ‘belly-flop’ flattened out to escape the noose. Michael Chandler, a wrestler himself, retorted to his wrist control and even crossed the centre line with back control at UFC 309.

So is there legit sauce behind the thought that Oliveira might be switching up in favor of strike-to-strike matchups? Could the lightweight legend falter and not get a finish like Oliveira vs. Chandler 2? Could Gamrot win this matchup if they fight? Only time will tell.

ALSO READ: UFC Lightweight Rankings 2025: The Top Contenders in the 155-Pound Division