Overview

• UFC officials and Charles Oliveira confirmed Mateusz Gamrot as the replacement opponent for the Oct. 11 Rio de Janeiro main event after Rafael Fiziev withdrew injured.
• Oliveira had initially expressed reluctance about switching from a striker to a wrestler on two weeks’ notice and criticized rivals for offering publicly but declining privately.
• Gamrot actively campaigned for the bout, traveled to American Top Team to prepare, and enters on a 4-1 run in his past five fights.
• The fight marks Oliveira’s quick return following a June knockout loss to Ilia Topuria and his first appearance in Brazil since March 2020.
• Other names floated included Benoît Saint-Denis, Diego Lopes, and Renato Moicano, but online ‘ducking’ chatter subsided once the Gamrot matchup was made official.