At the UFC 308 press conference held in Abu Dhabi last October, undefeated fighter Dorobshokh Nabotov seized the opportunity to publicly request a chance from Dana White to compete in the octagon. However, it was ultimately Matheus Camilo who stole the spotlight during a subsequent fight and secured a contract with the promotion.
Instead of granting Nabotov a spot on Dana White`s Contender Series, the UFC president arranged a match for him at Z Fight Night in South Korea, a promotion founded by former UFC title challenger Chan Sung Jung, known as “The Korean Zombie.” White, watching the December fight from his home alongside Matt Serra and Din Thomas, saw Camilo deliver a dominant performance. Camilo effectively used calf kicks and attempted submissions, leading to a victory via decision.
Speaking on an episode of Lookin` For A Fight, White commented on the situation: “Listen, this happens a lot. You get your opportunity to have your moment, where the world gets to see you, all this hype around him because he was at the press conference and everybody reported on it, and Matheus was the guy that came in and absolutely stole his moment from him.”
Camilo currently holds a professional record of 9-2. He is scheduled to make his inaugural appearance inside the UFC APEX this Saturday at UFC Vegas 106, where he will face Gabe Green.
Camilo described the experience: “It was a show built for the guy, the media around him with the hype. It was a huge opportunity for me. I was watching when he asked Dana [at the press conference] and never imagined I would fight him. I was training in Vegas when they called me to fight, and I said absolutely yes. It was an opportunity to change my life.”
Although Camilo won the decision, he admitted feeling concerned that not getting a finish might prevent him from earning a UFC contract. However, White`s video remarks later showed his clear excitement about Camilo`s performance. At one point during the fight, due to Nabotov`s limited offense, White seemed to be favoring the 24-year-old Brazilian.
In a video conference after the bout, White told Camilo, “Matheus, you looked unbelievable. You were definitely more well-rounded. You started chopping that leg in the first round, damaged it, and pretty much, in our opinion, controlled the fight the rest of the night.”
White continued, “As young as you are, 23 years old [at the time], you really impressed us tonight. Congratulations kid, you’re getting in the UFC. You flew over there to Korea, this guy was the A-side of this thing, all the hype behind him, and you took the opportunity and made the most of it. And you looked f*cking great tonight, so congratulations.”
Camilo shared his emotional reaction: “I was very emotional. I was a bit apprehensive [White wouldn’t sign me] because the fight didn’t go as I wanted. I never imagined he would try to hold me down the entire time. I wanted a war, an absolute banger, but it turned out different. But I was able to hurt him and was surprised when Dana said I was getting signed.”
After the fight, Camilo returned to Las Vegas, his training base, to await the call for his octagon debut. The upcoming fight against Gabe Green coincides closely with the five-year anniversary of his father`s death, who had been a crucial supporter of his career from the beginning.
Recalling his father, Camilo said, “My dad was always very strict with me. At first he said I would only be able to leave Acre to train at Nova Uniao after I finished high school, and then there was no turning back. It was all good at first, I was very happy, but it all changed when the [COVID-19] pandemic hit. That’s when my father got sick and we lost him. He was my biggest supporter. He was there for me. When he passed away, that’s when my real fight began, if that’s what I really wanted, if I was willing to be away from my family this entire time. That’s when the desert began, and I’m still here.”
Despite considering quitting the sport after this difficult period, Camilo was encouraged by his mother not to give up. She sent him to Rio de Janeiro to train with his idol, Jose Aldo, before he eventually relocated to Las Vegas in pursuit of greater opportunities. His father passed away on May 15, 2020, and this week marks Camilo`s official first week as a UFC fighter.
Reflecting on his journey, Camilo stated, “I get flashbacks from five years ago, when I was crying and lost, And now I’m here to make my UFC debut, which was a dream for him, a dream for me. I’m very grateful for this moment.”
Gabe Green, Camilo’s initial opponent in the octagon, holds a 2-3 record within the UFC, having faced notable fighters such as Ian Machado Garry, Bryan Battle, and Daniel Rodriguez. Given Green`s experience against high-level opponents, Camilo expects a challenging night in the cage.
Camilo expressed his readiness for the challenge: “I know I’ll only have tough fights in the UFC, it will always be a challenge. I’m ready for this. This is what I’ve always wanted, so I wanna make the most of this moment. He’s a tough fighter, moving down from welterweight, and has some experience in the UFC, so I feel honored to be sharing the cage with this guy. It’s going to be a fun fight because he’s the type of fighter that always walks forward and likes to brawl, just like me. And I’m going there to finish this fight, brother. I’m very hungry.”
