With UFC Rio just hours away, the spotlight among fighters has shifted to the No. 8-ranked lightweight contender Mateusz Gamrot. And why not? ‘Gamer’ stepped in on short notice to face former champion Charles Oliveira after the Brazilian’s original opponent, Rafael Fiziev, withdrew last month, leaving Brazil’s first fight night in a decade hanging. Since making his UFC debut, the Polish standout has compiled an impressive 8-3 record, outclassing top-ranked fighters like Arman Tsarukyan along the way.

But Mateusz Gamrot didn’t begin to shine in the UFC. In fact, the ‘Gamer’ cemented his legacy in Poland as a two-division KSW champion. Now, he hopes to replicate that success on the world stage, aiming for a future lightweight title. Yet before reaching the pinnacle, Gamrot must navigate the deep and treacherous waters of the UFC’s lightweight division, all while using his faith as a guiding compass. Speaking of faith, what religion does the ‘Gamer’ actually follow?

All we know about Mateusz Gamrot’s religion

Mateusz Gamrot hails from Bielsko-Biała in southern Poland, a region steeped in Central Europe’s cultural and religious traditions. Though the former KSW champion has never publicly discussed his faith, his roots hint at a conventional Polish upbringing. While the former KSW champion has not disclosed his personal religious beliefs, his Polish surname reflects a traditional upbringing. Based on Poland’s demographics, over 70% of Poles identify as Christian, with most practicing Catholicism, and 1.1% following other Christian denominations. So, it’s likely that Gamrot experienced a Catholic environment.

By 2025, Gamrot had crossed the Atlantic, trading the familiarity of Poland for the grind of the American fight circuit. Now training at the famed American Top Team in Florida, he continues to chase greatness while his family remains over 3,942 miles away. Reflecting on the emotional cost of this sacrifice, he shared, “When I made the decision to come to American Top Team, my kids didn’t understand why daddy left the house, but every year it’s getting better. This is a hard decision; sometimes I cry in my room, but when I call my kids, it gives me energy.”

At the same time, questions around faith also remain. In Poland, 6.9% of the population identifies as atheists, and 20.6% remain undecided about their beliefs, leaving open the possibility that Gamrot could embrace a non-religious path.

More about Mateusz Gamrot’s early life & background

While most kids his age were busy playing video games, young Gamrot was already embracing the grind — training at a boarding school in Milicz, where he balanced academics with a relentless pursuit of wrestling excellence. That dedication soon earned him a spot on Poland’s national wrestling team, where he carved his name across junior and youth championships. Over the course of his wrestling journey, Gamrot battled through more than 300 matches around the world — from the European mats to global arenas — laying the foundation for the fighter he would become.

But that chapter was merely the prologue. In 2011, he leaped into MMA, trading the wrestling singlet for 4-ounce gloves — and the rest, as they say, is history. Yet, much of his early life remains in the shadows. Speaking to the UFC, Gamrot once shared, “I studied emergency medical services and physical education.”

Now settled in the United States and sharpening his craft at American Top Team, Mateusz Gamrot still carries the soul of Poland with him every time he makes that familiar walk to the cage. Though his faith remains a mystery, one truth stands tall — Poland beats at the core of who he is. For the ‘Gamer,’ the red and white flag draped over his shoulders isn’t merely a national symbol — it’s the living heartbeat of pride that fuels every fight.