If Arman Tsarukyan vs. Mateusz Gamrot was a look at the future of the UFC lightweight division, that future looks terribly bright.
Gamrot defeated Tsarukyan by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47) at the UFC Fight Night main event on Saturday in Las Vegas. But the result could go in both cases – both men – two of the best fighters weighing 155 pounds in the world – performed at an incredibly high level.
“It was a very tough battle,” Gamrot said in an interview after the fight. “Armand is a high-level man of the new generation. I wish Armand the best. I hope we train in the future.”
Tsarukyan was ESPN’s number 10 in the lightweight category until Gamroth was ranked, although that is likely to change. Gamroth then called up former UFC interim lightweight champion Justin Getzhi, who is coming out after losing the title fight to Charles Oliveira at UFC 274 last month.
“Justin Getzie is the most brutal man in the division,” Gamrot said. “I want to fight him next time.”
The last three rounds on Saturday night were the difference in what was back and forth, a quick battle. Tsarukyan took the lead early, using his body kicks to slow Gamroth and his fighting ability to escape Gamroth’s takedown attempts. Gamroth managed to take takedowns later in the battle. Tsarukyan admitted that this is his first race of five rounds may have contributed to some fatigue deeper in the match.
Still, Tsarukyan knocked Gamroth back in the fourth round and knocked Gamroth off his feet with a calf kick in the fifth. Gamroth just looked the fresher and more aggressive fighter in the late rounds. Gamrot has accumulated 4 minutes, 58 seconds of control time, 4:24 of which in the last three rounds, according to ESPN Stats & Information data.
“I should have shown a better battle than this,” Tsarukyan said. “I know each other.” I don’t know what happened.
Judges Chris Lee, Sal D’Amato and Ron McCarthy had the same results, with the first two rounds for Tsarukyan and the last three for Gamroth.
Gamroth (21-1, 1 NC) is in a four-game winning streak. The Polish fighter has been unbeaten since his UFC debut, losing to Guram Kutateladze in October 2020. The 31-year-old Gamrot finished all of his previous three wins on Saturday. He is a former KSW light and light heavyweight champion. Gamroth was an outsider at +220.
Tsarukyan (18-3) broke a five-game winning streak. The fighter from the Republic of Georgia had only one loss in the UFC, against the leading contender Islam Makhachev in Tsarukyan’s debut in the UFC in April 2019. Tsarukyan, 25, came out of consecutive finals, which brought him a pair of $ 50,000 Performance of the night bonuses .
“I’m ready for any devil in the division,” Gamrot said. “I will definitely be a champion in the future.”
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