Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

UFC lightweight contender Mateusz Gamrot spoke publicly for the first time since his lopsided defeat to Quillan Salkilld.

Rising star Quillan Salkilld made a statement in his first UFC main event by submitting Mateusz Gamrot at UFC Vegas 120 last Saturday. After a back-and-forth first few minutes of the fight, Salkilld secured a nasty rear-naked choke on Gamrot to extend his 13-fight win streak.

As for Gamrot, it was a disappointing setback for the lightweight vet, after trading wins and losses in recent years. His recent submission victory over Esteban Ribovics initially signaled that Gamrot might be ready to compete with the best in the division.

Despite suffering from the jaws of defeat, Gamrot isn’t backing down from his long-term goals in the UFC Octagon.

Mateusz Gamrot issues lengthy statement after falling to Quillan Salkilld

In a recent Instagram post, Gamrot addressed his following after UFC Vegas 120.

“I lost. But this defeat doesn’t end my story. For many years, I’ve been walking this path, which taught me that sport, like life, doesn’t always give us what we work hard for. Sometimes, instead of victory, we get a lesson. Sometimes, instead of a raised hand, we get silence, which forces us to look deeper within,” Gamrot began.

“I’ve been to the top. I’ve also been to the bottom. I’ve won, I’ve lost, I’ve fallen, and I’ve come back. And that’s why I know my journey isn’t over yet. You can defeat me in one evening, but you won’t take away my faith, my character, and my will to fight. I believe there are still great moments ahead of me. More chapters I haven’t written yet…

“Because as long as you keep going, the story continues,” Gamrot continued. “And honestly, thank you to all the true fans for your support and love, together until the end.”

Gamrot will look to reclaim the form that saw him earn consecutive wins over Rafael dos Anjos, Rafael Fiziev, and Jalin Turner earlier in his UFC career.

Can Mateusz Gamrot still compete with the lightweight elite? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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