Mateusz Gamrot: 'I’m the Best Wrestler in the Lightweight Division'

Mateusz Gamrot claims Dustin Poirier’s last fight against Islam Makhachev is proof that “Gamer” is the best wrestler in the lightweight division.

Gamrot is scheduled to take on veteran contender Dan Hooker at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia, on Saturday. Gamrot believes a potential victory over Hooker sets him up for an interim lightweight title fight, and then an eventual title unifier against the champ Makhachev, who is temporarily sidelined due to a hand injury.

While “Gamer” acknowledges Makhachev’s elite grappling skillset, he considers himself the best wrestler in the lightweight division. And Gamrot highlights Makhachev’s last title fight against Poirier, whom he helped train, as testament to that. Poirier gave Makhachev a stern test en route to a fifth-round submission loss at UFC 302 this past June. While cornering Poirier for the fight, Gamrot had it 2-2 going into the final frame — although the judges saw it differently. Gamrot is proud of Poirier’s display against Makhachev and believes it goes to show how close his own potential clash against the Dagestani could be.

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“And look position from Dustin Poirier and performance. He [defended] very well many times, right. This was great fight,” Gamrot told Home of Fight. “And when I was [in] the corner with Dustin, this was like 2-2 after four rounds. Of course, the judges give the different points but for me it was close fight, and I am really proud from Dustin that he give the fight like that… In my opinion, I’m the best wrestler in the lightweight division. Of course, Islam [is] super high level, and he always show the high level still, but if I meet him the cage I think he can’t take me down but I will and then there’s gonna be great scramble matchup. And I hope he don’t want go to up division and he stay in lightweight division. And maybe not this year because we don’t have time, but next year we meet together and we’ll see who’s the best wrestler in lightweight division.”

Currently riding a three-fight winning streak, Gamrot also has some extra motivation to get his hand raised against Hooker. UFC 305 goes down on Aug. 17 in the U.S. and Aug. 18 in Australia, which is the birthday of Gamrot’s friend and fellow Pole, Joanna Jedrzejczyk. And Gamrot can’t think of a better gift than a win over “The Hangman.”

“Joanna always give me extra motivation and tips,” he said. “I love Joanna, she helped me a lot. She can’t come to Australia because she’s busy right now, but every time we have the opportunity then we meet together and we talk a lot… The day when I have fight, Joanna has birthday. So this gonna be like true motivation to me to give her super gift for her birthday, like winning the fight.”