One of the more anticipated match-ups on the UFC Vegas 31 card was the lightweight showdown between Jeremy Stephens and Mateusz Gamrot.
Stephens had deep-sixed his own fight last time out, shoving and injuring Drakkar Klose during weigh-ins. After that questionable and costly decision, a more orderly face-off had played out with Gamrot Friday. Saturday, however, would be a different story, given “Lil Heathen” always comes to fight, and Gamrot’s status as a former KSW double-champ.
Mateusz Gamrot wasted no time looking for the takedown Saturday as he went at it with Jeremy Stephens. He went down on an ankle and chained together a takedown. Stephens reached for an ill-advised kimura attempt and Gamrot used it to pass to north-south while holding on to the arm himself. After some finagling, Gamrot ripped the arm loose and snagged a kimura of his own for the early finish.
Takedown! Kimura! Tap! 🤯
📚 Textbook finish by @Gamer_MMA. #UFCVegas31 pic.twitter.com/NDEab0kioW
— UFC (@ufc) July 18, 2021
Statement made. The former KSW lightweight and featherweight king has now won two straight inside the octagon. Following the win, Gamrot called for UFC President Dana White and matchmaker Sean Shelby to match him up with someone in the top fifteen of the promotion’s lightweight division.
Official Result: Mateusz Gamrot def. Jeremy Stephens by Submission (Kimura) – Round 1, 1:05
