From a betting perspective, Charles Oliveira and Mateusz Gamrot closed as a coin flip. In reality, it wasn’t really close at all.
Oliveira (36-11 MMA, 24-11 UFC) had plenty of first-round success on the canvas against Gamrot (25-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC), then forced him to tap in the second round from a rear-naked choke in the UFC Fight Night 261 main event at Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro.
Oliveira extended his UFC record for most stoppage wins (21) and most submissions (17). The former lightweight champ also never has lost in his home country of Brazil, where the fans in Rio went ballistic after his win. He moved to 18-0 in Brazil in his career with a tap that came at the 2:48 mark of the second round. He’s now 7-0 in the UFC in Brazil.
In his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping in the cage, Oliveira said he wants a shot at Max Holloway and the symbolic “BMF” title.
They came out fast and slugging. But it only took Gamrot about 30 seconds to shoot for a takedown. He got it, but Oliveira snatched his left arm and worked for a submission. Gamrot worked to scramble out, and while it didn’t appear he was in major trouble with Oliveira’s omoplata attempt, it was a pretty clear message of what going to the canvas would present for him.
When Gamrot tried for his own attack on Oliveira’s leg, the Brazilian deftly bounced out and around and took Gamrot’s back. With 1:45 left, Gamrot scrambled again, but Oliveira wrapped him up tighter to look for the rear-naked choke. Gamrot got back to his feet, but Oliveira made himself into a backpack until they tumbled back to the canvas with Oliveira in easy control with a body triangle to ride out the round.
Gamrot didn’t appear interested in taking the fight to the canvas in the second, but on the feet had to deal with Oliveira marching him down for the first two minutes. Gamrot got a few punches in thanks to Oliveira’s bit of constant urgency, but they weren’t true threats. And with three minutes left, Oliveira scooped him up and took him to the canvas.
From there, it was absolutely a clinic. Oliveira worked his arm under the neck, tightened up, forced Gamrot to tap – and went over the top of the cage into the crowd to the fans and his family.
Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 261 results:
- Charles Oliveira def. Mateusz Gamrot via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:48
- Deiveson Figueiredo def. Montel Jackson via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Joel Alvarez def. Vicente Luque via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-26)
- Mario Pinto def. Jhonata Diniz via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 4:10
- Kaan Ofli def. Ricardo Ramos via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 3:02
- Michael Aswell def. Lucas Almeida via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:42
- Jafel Filho def. Clayton Carpenter via submission (kimura) – Round 1, 4:42
- Vitor Petrino def. Thomas Petersen via knockout (punches) – Round 3, 0:26
- Bia Mesquita def. Irina Alekseeva via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:14
- Lucas Rocha def. Stewart Nicoll via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Julia Polastri def. Karolina Kowalkiewicz via TKO (head kick, punches) – Round 3, 2:56
- Luan Lacerda def. Saimon Oliveira via submission (armbar) – Round 2, 3:55
