UFC Fight Night 261 at Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, delivered an action-packed evening from start to finish with a stacked lineup. In the main event, hometown hero Charles Oliveira easily emerged victorious over Mateusz Gamrot via second-round submission. After all, the Polish contender stepped in on short notice after Rafael Fiziev withdrew due to a knee injury, making Gamrot the underdog heading into the bout.

Oliveira, fresh off his loss to Ilia Topuria, was determined to bounce back and position himself for a blockbuster showdown with Max Holloway for the BMF title — and potentially another run at lightweight gold. Meanwhile, Gamrot was eyeing a breakthrough into the top five and the chance to showcase his wrestling against one of the division’s elite. Unfortunately for him, things didn’t go as planned. Now, the question remains: what’s next for the Polish contender?

Who will Mateusz Gamrot fight next?

The loss marked Gamrot’s second defeat in his last three outings, halting his momentum as a top-10 lightweight contender. Despite the setback, the No. 8-ranked lightweight remains a valuable asset for the UFC — one worthy of a rebound fight rather than risking a slide into obscurity. Given the current lightweight landscape, Gamrot’s next matchup will likely serve to rebuild his standing without immediate title implications. 

Since he already holds a win over Rafael Fiziev, a rematch could make perfect sense. Another victory over Fiziev would not only avenge his recent loss but also push him back toward the division’s upper tier. Alternatively, Gamrot could square off against Renato Moicano, Grant Dawson, or rising Brazilian prospect Mauricio Ruffy. Most of the other top names in the lightweight division are either booked or have upcoming plans, making any of these above options both realistic and compelling for his return.

In the meantime, Charles Oliveira already knows who he will fight next!

Charles Oliveira calls out Max Holloway

With the win, ‘Do Bronx’ extended his record for the most submissions (17) and finishes (21) in promotional history, while tying for the second-most wins (24). After this win, the Brazilian used his post-fight interview to call out BMF champion Max Holloway for a rematch. This is undoubtedly an exciting fight that fans will get behind. 

“I see my path toward the title the same way as I’ve always focused on it — keeping my spirit alive, keeping my focus alive, taking one step at a time,” Oliveira said. “With one or two more big victories after that, I know I’ll be right back in line for the title shot.” Oliveira and Holloway previously met in 2015, where Holloway won by first-round stoppage.

It appears Charles Oliveira has a clear path to UFC gold. However, Mateusz Gamrot will have to figure out what the future holds for him. Who do you think the Polish fighter should face next?