Undefeated MMA fighter Dorobshokh Nabotov used the UFC 308 press convention in Abu Dhabi this previous October to ask Dana White for a chance to show his talent within the octagon. Ultimately, it was Matheus Camilo who stole the present and earned a contract with the promotion.
As an alternative of getting Nabotov a shot at Dana White’s Contender Collection, the top of the UFC secured him a match at Z Battle Night time in South Korea, a promotion based by former UFC title challenger “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung. White watched from house alongside Matt Serra and Din Thomas, and noticed Camilo dominate with slick calf kicks and submission makes an attempt to emerge victorious by way of determination in December.
“Pay attention, this occurs quite a bit,” White mentioned on an episode of Lookin’ For A Fight. “You get your alternative to have your second, the place the world will get to see you, all this hype round him as a result of he was on the press convention and everyone reported on it, and Matheus was the man that got here in and completely stole his second from him.”
Camilo is now 9-2 as knowledgeable fighter. He makes his first stroll contained in the UFC APEX when he faces Gabe Green this Saturday at UFC Vegas 106.
“It was a present constructed for the man, the media round him with the hype,” Camilo informed MMA Preventing. “It was an enormous alternative for me. I used to be watching when he requested Dana [at the press conference] and by no means imagined I’d battle him. I used to be coaching in Vegas after they known as me to battle, and I mentioned completely sure. It was a possibility to alter my life.”
Camilo gained the choice and admits he thought not getting a end would imply no contract with the UFC, however the White vlog confirmed how the UFC CEO was enthusiastic about his efficiency. At one level, attributable to Nabotov’s lack of offense, it felt like White was rooting for the 24-year-old Brazilian.
“Matheus, you seemed unbelievable,” White informed Camilo by way of video convention after the battle. “You had been undoubtedly extra well-rounded. You began chopping that leg in he first spherical, broken it, and just about, in our opinion, managed the battle the remainder of the night time.
“As younger as you might be, 23 years previous [at the time], you actually impressed us tonight. Congratulations child, you’re getting within the UFC. You flew over there to Korea, this man was the A-side of this factor, all of the hype behind him, and also you took the chance and made probably the most of it. And also you seemed f*cking nice tonight, so congratulations.”
“I used to be very emotional,” Camilo mentioned. “I used to be a bit apprehensive [White wouldn’t sign me] as a result of the battle didn’t go as I wished. I by no means imagined he would attempt to maintain me down all the time. I wished a struggle, an absolute banger, nevertheless it turned out completely different. However I used to be in a position to harm him and was shocked when Dana mentioned I used to be getting signed.”
Camilo flew again to Las Vegas, the place he lives and trains, and waited for a name to make his octagon debut. The Inexperienced battle comes nearly precisely 5 years after the dying of his father, one in every of his foremost supporters from day one.
“My dad was all the time very strict with me,” Camilo mentioned. “At first he mentioned I’d solely have the ability to go away Acre to coach at Nova Uniao after I completed highschool, after which there was no turning again. It was all good at first, I used to be very glad, nevertheless it all modified when the [COVID-19] pandemic hit. That’s when my father obtained sick and we misplaced him. He was my greatest supporter. He was there for me. When he handed away, that’s when my actual battle started, if that’s what I actually wished, if I used to be keen to be away from my household this whole time. That’s when the desert started, and I’m nonetheless right here.”
Camilo thought-about quitting the game, however his mom refused to let him hand over. She despatched him again to Rio de Janeiro to coach together with his idol Jose Aldo, and he later moved to Las Vegas on the lookout for larger alternatives. Camilo’s father handed away on Could 15, 2020, and he’s now in his first official week as a UFC fighter.
“I get flashbacks from 5 years in the past, once I was crying and misplaced,” Camilo mentioned, “And now I’m right here to make my UFC debut, which was a dream for him, a dream for me. I’m very grateful for this second.”
Inexperienced, Camilo’s first octagon opponent, is 2-3 within the firm with losses to Ian Machado Garry, Bryan Battle and Daniel Rodriguez. On condition that high-level expertise, Camilo doesn’t anticipate a simple night time within the cage.
“I do know I’ll solely have robust fights within the UFC, it should all the time be a problem,” Camilo mentioned. “I’m prepared for this. That is what I’ve all the time wished, so I wanna take advantage of this second. He’s a troublesome fighter, transferring down from welterweight, and has some expertise within the UFC, so I really feel honored to be sharing the cage with this man. It’s going to be a enjoyable battle as a result of he’s the kind of fighter that all the time walks ahead and likes to brawl, similar to me. And I’m going there to complete this battle, brother. I’m very hungry.”
