Mateusz Gamrot is drawing confidence from the prospect of having longtime teammate Dustin Poirier nearby for UFC Vegas 120. Ahead of his main-event fight against Quillan Salkilld, Gamrot said Poirier’s energy and daily attitude have made a lasting impression on him at American Top Team. The Polish lightweight described a recent text exchange in which Poirier said he wanted to attend the fight, prompting Gamrot to respond with an emphatic assessment of what that support could mean to him.
Gamrot’s remarks put the focus on a personal connection rather than a technical prediction for the Salkilld matchup. He did not outline a tactical adjustment or make a claim about how the fight will unfold. Instead, he pointed to the emotional lift he associates with Poirier’s presence. That distinction matters because Gamrot framed the boost as motivation, using Poirier’s attitude as a source of confidence while preparing for a headline bout against an opponent carrying significant momentum. Poirier, a former interim UFC lightweight champion, trains with Gamrot at American Top Team and has previously been a vocal supporter of his teammate.
Gamrot sees Poirier as a source of energy
Asked about the best thing he has taken from Poirier, Gamrot answered simply: “Energy.” He went on to say that Poirier has “crazy energy always” and a great attitude every day. Gamrot then described the message he received from Poirier about coming to the UFC Vegas 120 fight in Las Vegas. According to Gamrot, he replied that Poirier’s attendance would give him “100 percent more power for attitude.” Gamrot’s strongest line came when he considered the possibility of Poirier being there for the Salkilld fight. “If Dustin comes to this fight, bro, I am immortal,” Gamrot said. The wording was clearly a statement of enthusiasm, but it also showed how strongly Gamrot values a teammate’s support on a fight week. The reported broadcast plans mean Poirier is set to return as a UFC analyst on Aug. 8, placing him in town for Gamrot’s next outing.
The timing gives Gamrot a familiar presence around an important lightweight contest. He is coming off a submission victory over Esteban Ribovics at UFC 327 in April, a result that followed his main-event loss to Charles Oliveira last October. The Ribovics win supplied a confirmed rebound in Gamrot’s recent run, while the Salkilld assignment presents a different kind of challenge: stopping an opponent whose rise has been built on consecutive victories. Salkilld enters the fight with a 5-0 UFC record and a 12-fight winning streak in the sport. He has not lost since his debut in 2021 and most recently knocked out Beneil Dariush in one round at UFC Perth. Those details give Gamrot’s comments added context. His focus on Poirier’s energy arrives before a bout against a fighter who has been advancing steadily, not as a replacement for the work required in the cage.
The UFC Vegas 120 stakes around Gamrot
Gamrot vs. Salkilld headlines UFC Vegas 120 at the Meta Apex. The matchup places Gamrot, described as a Polish veteran, opposite an Australian fighter identified as a leading lightweight prospect. For Gamrot, the immediate objective stated in the source context is to halt Salkilld’s surge up the ladder at 155 pounds. That is why Gamrot’s connection with Poirier is relevant without changing the central story of the event. Poirier is not presented as Gamrot’s opponent or as the person responsible for the result. His role is that of a friend, teammate and UFC analyst whose presence Gamrot believes can improve his mindset. Gamrot’s own words center on energy, attitude and confidence, while the scheduled fight remains the test that will determine whether he can build on the Ribovics submission. The available information also provides a clear chronology: Gamrot lost to Oliveira in October, submitted Ribovics in April, then prepared to headline UFC Vegas 120 against Salkilld. Poirier’s planned analyst return on Aug. 8 adds the final piece to the story Gamrot discussed. It turns a hopeful possibility raised in his interview into an expected in-town role for his teammate on the event weekend.
- Gamrot said Poirier’s defining quality is his “energy,” alongside a consistently strong attitude at American Top Team.
- Gamrot enters after submitting Esteban Ribovics, while Salkilld brings a 5-0 UFC mark and a 12-fight winning streak.
| Confirmed subject | Verified detail |
|---|---|
| Mateusz Gamrot | Submitted Esteban Ribovics at UFC 327 in April after losing to Charles Oliveira last October. |
| Quillan Salkilld | Is 5-0 in the UFC and most recently knocked out Beneil Dariush in one round at UFC Perth. |
Gamrot has made no secret of the value he places on Poirier’s support ahead of UFC Vegas 120. His comments supply a direct look at the teammate dynamic behind his preparation: Poirier’s energy is something Gamrot believes can sharpen his attitude for the Salkilld challenge. With a recent submission win behind him and Salkilld’s winning streak in front of him, Gamrot’s headline fight will provide the competitive answer; Poirier’s expected presence is the motivational detail Gamrot has highlighted most clearly.
Sources: Sherdog; Bloody Elbow
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