Mateusz Gamrot and Arman Tsarukyan spent Saturday at the Apex in Las Vegas, which is a prime example of everything great in mixed martial arts. It was fast with wild fights, great punches, high level fighting and grappling and intensity that is rarely seen in 25 full minutes.
Gamroth won by unanimous decision in a match that showed the unrealistic depth of the UFC lightweight division. Tsarukyan entered the match ranked 11th and Gamroth 12th, and after watching them fight so fiercely for five rounds, it’s hard to believe that there are 10 fighters in the division better than them.
Gamroth was 20-18 behind after two rounds, but swept the last three in the cards of all three judges to get the decision.
Only the loss by a separate decision from Guram Kutateladze in 2020 prevents Gamrot from being 22-0 as a professional. Tsarukyan fell to 18-3 in his first defeat after losing by decision in 2019 to Islam Mahachev.
Tsarukyan controlled the match early with his body kicks. There were many quick fights at the beginning of the battle, but neither had an advantage. But as the battle continued, Gamroth’s struggle became an increasingly important factor.
This was such an advantage in the second half of the battle that during the break after the fourth round, Tsarukyan’s corner insisted: “No fight!”
Tsarukyan had a 95-81 advantage on significant shots, but Gamroth had six takedowns to one for Tsarukyan. Four of those takedowns – two each – came in the last two rounds for Gamrot.
What struck Gamroth, however, was more accurate. He received 58 percent of his significant shots to 38 percent for Tsarukyan and tied for an incredibly high 20 out of 25 in the fifth round. Tsarukyan, by contrast, received 23 of 54 in the latter.
“It was a very difficult battle,” Gamrot said. “It was high-level MMA.”
Mateusz Gamrot and Arman Tsarukyan put on a lot of shows on Saturday at Apex in Las Vegas. (Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC)
Tsarukyan missed Gamrot by turning back at the beginning of the fourth, but Gamrot recovered quickly and got to his feet. This was a turning point, as Gamrot’s fighting skills took over the fight from that moment on.
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Gamroth was holding Tsarukyan’s back at the end of the fourth, and Tsarukyan’s knee was pressed uncomfortably under him, but Tsarukyan managed to get 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 battle than this.”
Gamrot ended an incredible battle by pulling out a surprise call. He asked for number 3 Justin Getty, who comes out of a loss to Charles Oliveira.
The battle will not happen above all, because Gaethje is ranked much higher than him, and the winner of the match on July 9 between number 7 Rafael dos Agnos and number 10 Rafael Fiziev may be a more logical next opponent for him.
But we can’t blame him for reaching for the stars after the spectacular performance.
“Now I want to fight Justin Getty,” Gamrot said. “Justin Getzie is the most brutal man in the division, so I want to fight him next.”
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