UFC Vegas 79: UFC Apex; Las Vegas
It was supposed to be an amazing fight between two top-ten lightweight fighters. Rafael Fiziev and Mateusz Gamrot had a tight opening round. It was setting up to be what was promised in the back and forth high paced contest. But sadly an injury ends main event just 2:03 into round two. And when something like that happens, it leaves a hollow feeling for all.
Fiziev got taken down but quickly got back up. He then went to launch a kick but is rotating leg buckled with his knee apparently popping. Gamrot said obviously didn’t want a win like that, but a win is a win. He also had a bit of a curious call out. Gamrot admitted that maybe a title shot isn’t next. And his dream was to fight Makhachev, but he wanted to face “the most dangerous fighter on the ground”, Charles Oliveira. He probably momentarily forgot that he’s in a title rematch versus Islam Makhachev.
Injury Ends Main Event But Some Good Ways To Go
“Gamer” is now on a modest two-fight winning streak. And as of next week despite the way he won, will most likely move up to sixth in the rankings. His last loss came to Beneil Dariush. So the opportunity to run it back should be given to him. Should that not interest him at this time there are a couple of bangers sitting out there.
Despite being on a one-fight losing streak, and 1-2 in his last three fights, Dustin Poirier can match him in striking. And his ATT teammate can handle himself on the mat as well. But that is the only thing that might hold that up, being teammates. Unless of course the UFC powers that be could choose to go the Justin Gaethje route. Gaethje’s hand speed is faster, his power is greater, and he still hasn’t relied on his wrestling like he did in his WSOF days. Gamrot’s slickness on the ground would be a challenge for both.
Now that he’s in the real deep end of the pool, his skill set can be matched by others. The margin of victory here is paper thin. So he needs to think very carefully about what track he wants to take in his title run. In that sense a battle with Poirier might be the better plan. Simply because history shows there’s less physical damage coming back at you in a Poirier fight than in a Gaethje one.
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