LAS VEGAS, Nevada — “Challenge is my second name,” Polish lightweight Mateusz Gamrot said during Wednesday’s UFC 285 media day.
Gamrot (21-2, 1NC) certainly faces a challenge this Saturday in Las Vegas, with a menacing Jalin Turner taking over for Dan Hooker on short notice.
Turner is a tall, lanky forward, but that’s not a problem for the Pole, Gamrot told media including Cageside Press on Wednesday.
“A lot of times I’ve played against high-level strikers, a lot of times I’ve played against guys who are taller than me,” Gamrot said. “That’s not a problem for me.”
Gamrot was on the fast track at lightweight in the UFC before meeting Beneil Dariush in his final bout. Gamrot backed away from the decision, viewing the fight as a lesson learned.
“Before my last fight, I was thinking, my career is going really fast, and I’m on my way to the top really fast. My last fight, I made a little mistake with Beneil Dariush, and I lost to myself Emotional control, I lost,” Gamrot explained. “But it was a big lesson for me. Now, I’m more mature than before, and I can say thank you, Beneil Dariush. You taught me an important lesson in life.”
Despite losing the previous bout, Gamrot believes the winner of his fight with Jalin Turner should stand firm going forward.
“It’s safe to say whoever wins this Saturday night deserves a top-five finish next time around.”
Mateusz Gamrot, a former KSW champion, took part in the promotion’s Colosseum card in 2017 – the second largest MMA event in history in terms of attendance. UFC hasn’t hosted a stadium show in many years, but Gamrot invited them to do so in Poland.
“I played one, the biggest fight,” he said. “Many years ago, in the Colosseum, I felt like a gladiator.”
Watch Mateusz Gamrot’s full UFC 285 media day appearance above.
