But as beloved and accomplished as he is, Oliveira also feels like he’s standing at a career crossroads of sorts.
Heading into Saturday night, the Chute Boxe Diego Lima product has dropped three of his last five and arrives just a few months after being viciously knocked out by Ilia Topuria during International Fight Week. On one hand, the losses have come against elite competitors, and there is no shame in falling to the likes of Topuria, Arman Tsarukyan, and Islam Makhachev. At the same time, after 47 professional appearances, including several gruelling battles, you have to wonder how much longer Oliveira will be able to remain a fixture in the title picture in the ultra-competitive 155-pound weight class.
“My focus is on myself,” began Gamrot when asked about his opponent’s recent run of results and where he feels Oliveira is at in his career as he readies to share the Octagon with him this weekend. “He always puts good performances on in the cage — sometimes up, sometimes down — but he always looks good.
“Three months ago, he had a bad knockout against Ilia, so right now, he expects there is going to be more grappling, and this is true. Sometimes if you go to the grappling and try to submit somebody, then you (leave yourself open to counter-attacks).
“I see some holes in his jiu jitsu game, and I want to take this,” he added. “This is the right moment to fight with him. He’s one of the greatest — I have much respect for him — but this is the time to change guard.”
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