UFC Fight Night Rio: Oliveira Returns Home to Face Gamrot's Wrestling Prowess in Crucial Lightweight Clash

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira is set to make a highly anticipated return to his home nation this Saturday, headlining UFC Fight Night in Rio against formidable Polish contender Mateusz Gamrot. The event marks Oliveira’s first fight on Brazilian soil since March 2020, a period that encompasses his entire championship reign and subsequent title loss, making this homecoming a poignant moment for "Do Bronx."

Oliveira (35-11 MMA, 23-11 UFC), a beloved figure in mixed martial arts, last competed in Brazil five years ago when he secured a submission victory over Kevin Lee. That event, however, took place in an empty arena due to the nascent global health crisis. This weekend, Oliveira will finally fight before a fervent Brazilian crowd for the first time in six years, a stark contrast to his championship ascent which saw him defeat Michael Chandler, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje to claim and defend the lightweight title, all outside of his native country. Despite returning without the gold, having lost his title to Islam Makhachev, Oliveira remains a top contender and is eager to leverage a win over Gamrot into a potential ceremonial BMF title fight with Max Holloway, a stepping stone he hopes will lead to another shot at the undisputed UFC lightweight championship.

"It’s for my legacy," Oliveira conveyed through a Portuguese interpreter to CBS Sports, emphasizing the personal significance of fighting on this card. "To be in front of my fans and feel the energy of the Brazilian people." The emotional weight of the moment is undeniable for Oliveira, who holds the record for most finishes and most submission wins in UFC history, a testament to his dynamic and often chaotic fighting style. His aggressive striking, combined with his unparalleled Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, makes him a threat in every phase of a fight, albeit sometimes at the cost of defensive vulnerabilities.

Standing opposite Oliveira is Mateusz Gamrot (25-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC), a highly touted lightweight contender from Poland, currently ranked No. 6 in the division. Gamrot, a product of American Top Team, is widely considered one of the division’s premier wrestlers. He enters this contest undeterred by Oliveira’s legendary grappling prowess, expressing excitement at the prospect of a high-level ground exchange. Gamrot’s confidence is further bolstered by a couple of key factors: the short-notice opponent change for Oliveira, who was originally preparing for elite striker Rafael Fiziev, and the past success of Arman Tsarukyan against Oliveira. Tsarukyan, another high-level wrestler, notably outgrappled Oliveira for periods during their 2019 encounter, providing a potential blueprint for Gamrot.

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"Oliveira doesn’t like wrestlers," Gamrot stated in an interview with CBS Sports. "He’s the most dangerous guy on the ground. I understand people don’t want to go to the ground with him. But not me. Wrestling and BJJ are in my DNA. I love exchanging submissions and grappling. I’m happy because my previous opponents always try to stand up. Charles Oliveira will try to submit me or scramble with me." Gamrot’s wrestling statistics reinforce his claim, averaging over five takedowns per 15 minutes, a significant metric against Oliveira, who historically has shown a willingness to concede takedowns, relying on his active guard and submission threats from the bottom. Gamrot’s ability to maintain top control and navigate dangerous submission attempts will be crucial, reminiscent of his five-round grappling clinic against Arman Tsarukyan in 2022, a fight he won by unanimous decision.

The strategic clash between Oliveira and Gamrot presents a fascinating dynamic. Oliveira’s path to victory typically involves overwhelming opponents with his relentless striking volume and power, or by engaging in grappling exchanges where his submission game can shine. His willingness to take risks, while often leading to spectacular finishes, also exposes him to damage, as seen in his recent bouts. Gamrot, conversely, will likely aim to control the distance, secure takedowns, and neutralize Oliveira’s offensive BJJ with strong positional grappling and ground-and-pound, minimizing the risk of entering Oliveira’s submission traps. The early betting odds from DraftKings Sportsbook reflect the tightly contested nature of this matchup, with Gamrot opening as a slight favorite at -115 and Oliveira at -105, indicating a near pick’em scenario.

Beyond the main event, Saturday’s Fight Night features several other compelling matchups, showcasing a strong contingent of Brazilian talent for the home crowd.

In the co-main event, two-time flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo (22-4-1 MMA, 11-4-1 UFC) continues his bantamweight campaign against rising contender Montel Jackson (14-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC). Figueiredo, after an illustrious reign at flyweight, transitioned to bantamweight following a knee injury loss to Cory Sandhagen. He aims to rebound and establish himself in the deeper 135-pound division. Jackson, meanwhile, arrives on a six-fight winning streak, seeking his most significant victory to date to break into the bantamweight rankings. DraftKings lists Jackson as a -325 favorite, with Figueiredo as the +260 underdog, reflecting Jackson’s strong momentum.

An all-action welterweight clash is also scheduled between Vicente Luque (22-10-1 MMA, 15-6 UFC) and Joel Alvarez (20-4 MMA, 5-3 UFC). Luque, a fan favorite known for his aggressive style, has endured a challenging period recently but stands one finish away from potentially tying UFC welterweight records for most finishes and post-fight bonuses. Alvarez, nicknamed "El Fenomeno," is renowned for his consistent finishing ability, with all 22 of his professional wins coming by stoppage, including seven in the UFC. He is currently on a three-fight winning streak, having bounced back impressively since being knocked out by top contender Arman Tsarukyan in 2022. Alvarez is a substantial favorite at -535, with Luque at +400.

The heavyweight division will also see action as Jhonata Diniz (9-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) takes on Mario Pinto (6-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC). Diniz brings a decorated kickboxing career to the cage, holding a 9-1 professional MMA record. He suffered a TKO loss to Marcin Tybura in November 2024 but swiftly rebounded with a decision win over Alvin Hines in June. Mario Pinto makes his UFC debut after a regional circuit career. Diniz is favored at -142 against Pinto at +120.

Additionally, veteran featherweight Ricardo Ramos (16-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC) returns to face Kaan Ofli (11-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC). Ramos has experienced a challenging run recently, losing three of his last four bouts since 2023, and will be looking to regain momentum. Ofli makes his promotional debut. Ramos is the favorite at -198, with Ofli at +164. Another featherweight bout sees Michael Aswell Jr. (-162) take on Lucas Almeida (+136).

The full fight card and viewing information are detailed below:

UFC Fight Night Viewing Information
Date: Oct. 11
Start time: 7 p.m. ET (main card)
Location: Farmasi Arena — Rio de Janeiro
TV channel: ESPN+

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

Favorite	Underdog	Weight class
Mateusz Gamrot -115	Charles Oliveira -105	Lightweight
Montel Jackson -325	Deiveson Figuereido +260	Bantamweight
Joel Alvarez -535	Vicente Luque +400	Welterweight
Jhonata Diniz -142	Mario Pinto +120	Heavyweight
Ricardo Ramos -198	Kaan Ofli +164	Featherweight
Michael Aswell Jr. -162	Lucas Almeida +136	Featherweight