Charles Oliveira has rejected the idea of fighting Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Rio, despite the fact that the Polish lightweight was the first to volunteer after Rafael Fiziev withdrew. With only a few weeks until the card in Brazil, Oliveira made it clear that Gamrot isn’t the man to face him. But why did ‘Do Bronx’ decide not to fight the #8-ranked fighter?

Since Fiziev’s injury forced him to withdraw from the main event on October 11, the UFC has been scrambling to salvage the fight. Benoit Saint Denis and Renato Moicano were both proposed but declined, leaving Oliveira without a dance partner as the clock ticked away.

“Very complicated” – Charles Oliveira on last-minute gameplan change for Mateusz Gamrot

Gamrot, on the other hand, went all in, flying to the United States and openly swearing to confront Oliveira “in his own house.” Despite the effort, the former champion claims it is not that simple. In a recent interview, Charles Oliveira made it clear that Gamrot isn’t the right replacement, pointing to the drastic change in style and the limited time left to prepare.

“I was focused on a guy who comes from a striking background,” Oliveira told Laerte Viana about the sudden change. “With two weeks left until the fight, I have to change my whole game plan. It’s very complicated.” The Brazilian emphasized that this was not about avoiding a challenge but rather the reality of scrapping months of preparation for a completely different style of opponent.

Oliveira went on to describe his current situation. “I don’t want to be taken off the card. I asked for this card; I’ve been training like crazy for it,” he explained. “Gamrot is a good matchup for me in a sense because he’s a wrestler/grappler. But it’s completely different from the style I’ve been training for the last month or two. It’s about understanding and game-planning.”

While Mateusz Gamrot claims he is ready on short notice, ‘Do Bronx’ believes the risk of rushing into such a stylistic shift is too high this close to fight night. This leaves Brazil’s biggest MMA star in limbo. The home crowd in Rio expects him to headline, but time is running out to lock in a suitable replacement.

With ‘Gamer’ already campaigning and Oliveira digging in, the UFC now has a narrow window to decide whether ‘Do Bronx’ will still receive his chance in front of home fans or whether another twist threatens to derail the October card. But luckily for them, there are still some more options coming in.

Diego Lopes fields his name to fight Charles Oliveira

As Charles Oliveira’s reservations about Gamrot linger, another contender has entered the scene. Diego Lopes, fresh off a stunning victory at Noche UFC 3, has openly offered to face ‘Do Bronx’ in Rio. When asked, the featherweight did not hesitate, referring to Oliveira as a legend and stating clearly that he would take the fight without a second thought.

“I’ll never turn down a fight,” Lopes told Laerte Viana. “If you think I’m the right guy to fight him and you call me, then definitely yes, no problem, without even thinking twice.” That approach, combined with his knockout of Jean Silva, has piqued fans’ and pundits’ interest. Moving up to lightweight against a past champion is a bold move, but Lopes’ confidence has added to the excitement surrounding the Rio main event.

The UFC now has a decision to make. Diego Lopes’ rising star power provides excitement for the Rio crowd, while Gamrot continues to promote and insult Oliveira’s unwillingness to face a wrestler on short notice. After Oliveira’s interview hit the internet, ‘Gamer’ took to his X account to chastise the Brazilian.

He wrote, “I hear you’re worried about my style, even though you had a full training camp. I had none, and still I’m ready to step into the cage. Two weeks left to prepare – and I’m already in ATT right here. No excuses, let’s do this.” Well, tensions are flaring, and between a rising featherweight and a tenacious lightweight challenger, the promotion must quickly decide which road will keep its Brazilian showcase alive.