Mateusz Gamrot

Mateusz Gamrot's path in combat sports was forged long before he stepped inside an MMA cage. As a youth, he dedicated himself to wrestling and earned a place on the Polish National wrestling team, building the athletic and technical foundation that would define his career across both grappling and mixed martial arts. Wrestling instilled in him the physical attributes and competitive mindset that translate naturally to high-level combat sports — relentless pressure, sharp takedown execution, and an instinctive pursuit of positional control.

Gamrot made his professional MMA debut on February 4, 2012, launching a career that would eventually place him among the elite fighters in the world's most competitive organization. The transition from wrestling to MMA proved seamless, as he compiled an undefeated record during the first years of his professional career. This formative period extended beyond MMA, however — Gamrot simultaneously developed as a competitive no-gi grappler, pursuing excellence in both disciplines in parallel during the critical early phase of his athletic development.

European Trials Gold and Early Championship Results

Gamrot's emergence as a dominant force on the European grappling circuit became evident in 2014, when he captured the ADCC European Trials gold medal in the under 77 kg division. The timing was significant — this title arrived during the same period his undefeated MMA run was building momentum, illustrating his ability to perform at a high level across both disciplines simultaneously.

The following year, 2015, proved to be a landmark on the grappling stage. Gamrot placed 3rd in the 77 kg class at the ADCC European Championship in Turku, demonstrating that he could hold his own against elite European grapplers in a standalone championship format. That same year, he made his ADCC World Championships debut, drawing Lucas Lepri in the opening round and being eliminated — a brutal first-round assignment, given that Lepri went on to finish on the podium. Facing an athlete of Lepri's caliber in a World Championship debut speaks to the unforgiving bracket structure of ADCC and the level of opposition Gamrot encountered at grappling's most prestigious event.

Returning to the Trials and the 2019 World Championship

Gamrot returned to the ADCC European Trials in 2019 and claimed his second gold medal, reaffirming his standing as the premier Polish grappler in the under 77 kg division across a five-year span. The back-to-back Trials titles, separated by half a decade, underscore a consistency and longevity that few competitors in the division can match.

He then competed at the 2019 ADCC World Championship, where he drew Garry Tonon in the opening round and was eliminated at the first hurdle. As in 2015, his first-round opponent went on to finish on the podium — a recurring pattern that contextualizes the results and reflects the caliber of opposition Gamrot has consistently drawn at the World Championship level. Two ADCC European Trials titles and multiple World Championship appearances establish Gamrot as a legitimately elite no-gi grappler, even as MMA remained his primary competitive focus throughout this period.

Building an Elite Professional Record

Building on his undefeated early career, Gamrot continued developing as a professional fighter and accumulated a professional MMA record of 25-4 (1) against elite-level opposition. The single no-contest on his record reflects the unpredictable nature of high-level MMA rather than any deficiency in his game. Each loss, by contrast, came against opponents who tested the limits of his abilities and contributed to his growth as a complete mixed martial artist.

Establishing Himself at the Top of Lightweight

As of March 2026, Gamrot held a ranking of #8 in the UFC lightweight division, placing him among the best 155-pound fighters in the world's most competitive promotion. Reaching that level demands sustained excellence over a long period, and Gamrot's trajectory through the division demonstrates the kind of incremental improvement that defines elite careers. His wrestling base remains a constant threat in the cage, complemented by the no-gi grappling credentials he has built through years of ADCC competition.

Gamrot was scheduled to face Esteban Ribovics at UFC 327 on April 11, 2026 — a significant lightweight matchup with meaningful ranking implications for both fighters.

A Historic Stage and a Personal Milestone

Gamrot received an invitation to compete at ADCC 2026 in the under 77 kg division — a development that carries both sporting and personal significance. The event is scheduled to be held in Poland, marking the first time in ADCC World Championship history that the event has taken place on Polish soil. For Gamrot, competing on home ground at grappling's most prestigious event represents a convergence of circumstances that rarely presents itself to any athlete.

The ADCC 2026 event is listed across various sources as taking place around September 11–13, 2026, though some variation exists between platforms regarding the precise start date, with the official ADCC source listing September 11. Prospective attendees and competitors are advised to confirm the exact schedule through official ADCC channels as the event approaches.

The Weight of the Invitation

The invitation itself reflects the grappling community's recognition of Gamrot's credentials. His two ADCC European Trials titles and multiple World Championship appearances have established him as a legitimate elite in the under 77 kg division, irrespective of his primary focus on MMA. Returning to ADCC competition with the additional experience accumulated since 2019 — and doing so in front of a home crowd — positions ADCC 2026 as a potential career-defining chapter in his grappling story. A strong performance in Poland would not only validate his standing in the division but would do so on the grandest possible stage, in front of the country that shaped him as a wrestler and competitor from the very beginning.