Undefeated MMA fighter Dorobshokh Nabotov used the UFC 308 press conference in Abu Dhabi this October to ask Dana White for an opportunity to show his talent in the Octagon. It was Matheus Camilo who ultimately stole the show and signed a contract with the promotion.
Instead of making Nabotov a shot Dana White’s Candidate Seriesthe head of the UFC secured a match at the South Korean Z Fight Night, founded by former UFC title challenger “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung. White, along with Matt Serra and Din Thomas, saw Camillo dominate in his smooth calf kick and attempts to submission to win with a December decision.
“Listen, this happens a lot,” White said in an episode of I’m looking for a fight. “You get the chance to get the moment when the world comes to see you because he was at the press conference and everyone was reporting about it.
Camilo is currently 9-2 as a professional fighter. He will be his first stroll through the UFC Apex when he faces Gabe Green this Saturday at UFC Vegas 106.
“It was a show built for guys and the media around him had hype,” Camilo told MMA Fighting. “It was a great opportunity for me. When he asked Dana (at a press conference), I never imagined I would fight him. When they called me to fight me, I said absolutely yes. It was an opportunity to change my life.”
Camilo admits that it meant that he won the decision and would not sign a contract with the UFC unless he got a finish, but the White Blog showed how the UFC CEO was excited about his performance. At one point, it felt like White was cheering for the 24-year-old Brazilian due to Nabotov’s lack of attack.
“Matheus, you looked incredible,” White told Camilo in a video conference after the fight. “You were definitely more balanced. You started chopping that leg in his first round and hurting it.
“At the time of 23, you were impressed with us tonight. Congratulations. You’ve arrived at the UFC.
“I was very emotional,” Camilo said. “I was a little worried (White didn’t sign me), and I never imagined he would try to hold me down the whole time, as the fight didn’t go as I wanted it to.
Camillo returned to Las Vegas, where he lived, trained, and waited for a call to make his Octagon debut. The Battle of Green comes almost five years after the death of his father, one of his main supporters from day one.
“My dad was always very strict with me,” Camilo said. “In the beginning he said that after I graduated from high school, all I could do was leave the acre at Nova Uniyao. And at first it was very good. I was so happy, but my dad was hit by the pandemic when he got sick (COVID-19) so stay away from my family the whole time.
Camilo considers quitting the sport, but his mother refuses to give up on him. She sent him back to Rio de Janeiro to train with his idol Jose Aldo, who later moved to Las Vegas in search of greater opportunities. Camilo’s father passed away on May 15, 2020. He is currently in his first official week as a UFC fighter.
“I get flashbacks five years ago when I was crying and losing,” Camilo said.
Camilo’s first Octagon opponent, Green, is 2-3 in the company, losing to Ian Machado Gully, Brian Battle and Daniel Rodriguez. Given that high level of experience, Kamiro doesn’t expect a simple night in the cage.
“I know I only have tough fights in the UFC, and that’s always going to be a challenge,” Camilo said. “I’m ready for this, I’ve always wanted to make the most of this moment. He’s a tough fighter, moved from welterweight and has experience in the UFC, so I’m honored to share a cage with this guy.