Mateusz Gamrot and Arman Tsarukyan presented the type of fight on Saturday at the Las Vegas Apex which is an introduction to all things fantastic about mixed martial arts. It was fast with wild fighting, high impact, high level fighting and fighting and an intensity that is rarely seen for a full 25 minutes.
Gamrot won a unanimous decision in a bout that showed the unreal depth of the UFC lightweight division. Tsarukyan entered the fight occupying the 11th and Gamrot in the 12th, and after seeing them fight so fiercely for five rounds, it’s hard to believe that there are 10 fighters in the division better than them.
Gamrot was left behind 20-18 after two rounds, but swept the final three on the three judges ’scorecards to make the decision.
Only a split decision defeat against Guram Kutateladze in 2020 prevents Gamrot from having a 22-0 lead as a professional. Tsarukyan fell to 18-3 after suffering his first defeat since the 2019 decision defeat to Islam Makhachev.
Tsarukyan soon controlled the fight with his kicks to the body. At the beginning of the fight, there were many quick revolts, but neither had an advantage. But as the struggle progressed, Gamrot’s struggle became a more important factor.
The second half of the fight had so much advantage that in the break period after the fourth round, Tsarukyan’s corner told him, “No more fighting!”
Tsarukyan had a 95-81 lead in landed significant attacks, but Gamrot had six downs to one for Tsarukyan. Four of those eliminations, two each, reached Gamrot’s last two rounds.
The impact of Gamrot, though, was more accurate. He got 58% of his significant attacks to 38% for Tsarukyan and connected with an incredibly high 20 of 25 in the fifth round. Tsarukyan, on the other hand, got 23 of 54 in the last.
“It was a very tough fight,” Gamrot said. “That was high-level MMA.”
Mateusz Gamrot and Arman Tsarukyan put on a great show on Saturday at the Apex in Las Vegas. (Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC)
Tsarukyan dropped Gamrot with a first back turn early in the quarter, but Gamrot recovered quickly and stood up. It was a turning point, as Gamrot’s fighting skills took over the fight from that moment on.
The story goes on
Gamrot had Tsarukyan’s back at the end of the quarter, and had Tsarukyan’s knee tucked uncomfortably under him, but Tsarukyan got out of it.
“I do not know what happened [because] this camp was very good, “Tsarukyan said.” I don’t know. I have to show a better fight than this. “
Gamrot ended an incredible fight by making an amazing call. He called for No. 3 Justin Gaethje, who is coming off a loss to Charles Oliveira.
The fight will not take place mainly because Gaethje is much taller than him, and the winner of the July 9 fight between No. 7 Rafael dos Anjos and No. 10 Rafael Fiziev could be a more logical opponent for him.
But you don’t have to blame him for getting the stars after the spectacular performance he did.
“Now I want to fight Justin Gaethje,” Gamrot said. “Justin Gaethje is the most brutal guy in the division, so I want to fight him next.”