Rio de Janeiro Sets the Stage for a Brazilian Night of Fights
The UFC returned to Rio de Janeiro with a card packed with Brazilian talent and big implications across the lightweight and bantamweight divisions. In the spotlight: Charles Oliveira facing Mateusz Gamrot in a main event that felt inevitable given Oliveira’s history as one of the promotion’s most dangerous finishers and Gamrot’s relentless pressure and top-tier wrestling. The Farmai Arena crowd delivered a pulsating backdrop as the action unfolded, delivering a night that reinforced Brazil’s enduring love affair with the sport.
Oliveira vs. Gamrot: Brazilian Fearlessness Meets Polish Precision
Charles Oliveira (35-11, 1 NC) entered the cage as a living record book, boasting the most submission wins and the most finishes in UFC history. His trajectory hasn’t been linear, but his ability to finish from any position remains unrivaled. Mateusz Gamrot (25-3, 1 NC), a former two-division KSW champion, has built a reputation for elite wrestling, nonstop pace, and a nose for chaos.
The fight unfolded with Oliveira defending well at range before unleashing a relentless submission attack. By the end of the second round, Oliveira connected on a clean face crank submission that forced Gamrot to tap, sealing a memorable win for the Brazilian legend in front of his home crowd. The finish underscored Oliveira’s ongoing ability to adapt and find a path to victory against high-caliber opposition, even after his recent title setback.
Gamrot’s performance, though falling short, illustrated why he’s regarded as one of the most well-rounded lightweights in the division. He pressed with takedowns and scrambles, keeping Oliveira honest, but ultimately could not withstand the Brazilian’s submission prowess and the late-round pressure that Oliveira has demonstrated throughout his career.
Post-Fight Call-Out: Holloway for a BMF Title Bout?
In a move characteristic of Oliveira’s candid, crowd-pleasing style, the former champion used his post-fight moment to pivot toward another dream matchup. He called for a bout with Max Holloway under the BMF banner—a promotion-defining clash that would pit one of Brazil’s most beloved figures against a popular American veteran in a bout that would be high on the pay-per-view and intrigue list. The idea of Oliveira chasing a BMF-style title bout with Holloway adds another twist to the lightweight chapter and would instantly become a marquee matchup for fans globally.
Co-Main and undercard highlights point to a stacked night
Beyond the main event, the card delivered several intriguing results that helped shape the division landscape. Deiveson Figueiredo, a former flyweight champion, extended his bantamweight ambitions by edging Montel Jackson via split decision, signaling continued momentum in a reimagined title picture. In welterweight, Joel Alvarez overcame Vicente Luque via unanimous decision, while heavyweights Mario Pinto and Vitor Petrino both made statements with impressive finishes. The early action featured finishes across featherweight, bantamweight, and strawweight, including a sharp rear-naked choke win by Bia Mesquita and a dynamic head-kick finish by Julia Polastri.
What the Results Mean Next
Oliveira’s late-2025 resurgence in front of a home crowd and his call for a Holloway BMF bout injects new drama into the lightweight and super-fight conversation. If a Holloway matchup materializes, it could redefine post-title opportunities and add a cross-promotional glamour to the division. For Gamrot, the loss doesn’t erase the trajectory; it may even sharpen the focus on securing a title eliminator in 2026 as he continues to build his case against elite competition.
Event Details
UFC Rio: Oliveira vs. Gamrot streamed on ESPN+ with the main card starting at 7 p.m. ET. The crowd’s energy and the night’s finishes left little doubt that this card delivered on its promise of high-stakes fights and Brazilian passion for mixed martial arts.
