At the UFC 308 press conference in Abu Dhabi last October, fighter Dorobshokh Nabotov requested an opportunity from Dana White to compete in the octagon. However, it was Matheus Camilo who ultimately captured attention and secured a contract with the promotion.
Instead of granting Nabotov a spot on Dana White’s Contender Series, White arranged for him to fight at Z Fight Night in South Korea, a promotion founded by “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung. White observed the match remotely alongside Matt Serra and Din Thomas and witnessed Camilo deliver a commanding performance in December, utilizing effective calf kicks and submission attempts, leading to a decision victory.
“Listen, this happens a lot,” White commented on an episode of *Lookin` For A Fight*. “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. His upcoming fight, marking his debut inside the UFC APEX, is against Gabe Green this Saturday at UFC Vegas 106.
Speaking to MMA Fighting, Camilo described the event: “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.”
Camilo secured the decision win and initially worried that not getting a finish might cost him a UFC contract. However, White`s vlog showed his enthusiasm for Camilo`s performance. Due to Nabotov`s lack of offense, White seemed to favor the 24-year-old Brazilian during the fight.
Via video conference after the fight, White told Camilo, “Matheus, you looked unbelievable. You were definitely more well-rounded. You started chopping that leg in he 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 feelings: “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.”
Camilo returned to Las Vegas, his training base, and awaited news about his octagon debut. His fight against Green is scheduled for nearly five years to the day after the passing of his father, who was a key supporter from the start.
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.”
Camilo briefly considered abandoning the sport, but his mother encouraged him to continue. She sent him back to Rio de Janeiro to train with his hero, Jose Aldo, before he relocated to Las Vegas seeking greater opportunities. His father died on May 15, 2020, and Camilo is now entering his first official week as a UFC fighter.
Camilo reflected, “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 UFC record of 2 wins and 3 losses, including defeats by notable fighters. Recognizing Green`s experience at this level, Camilo anticipates a challenging fight.
Camilo stated, “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.”
