Mateusz Camilo flies into Azerbaijan for his UFC battle in opposition to Nazim Sadikhov on Saturday’s Battle Evening present in Baku, however believes the stress is on the shoulders of native expertise.
After an undefeated five-fight begin within the promotion, Sadikhov entered the cage in 2025 with a second-round knockout loss to Fares Giam, the primary lack of his UFC profession. battle of the evening The bonus has been transformed into money. For Camilo, standing in entrance of greater than 10,000 followers on the Nationwide Gymnastics Stadium might have blended results.
“I believe fighters coming off a loss already really feel extra stress, particularly once they battle at residence,” Camilo instructed MMA Combating. “I believe he’ll be underneath quite a lot of stress. And from what I’ve seen of his fights, like when he fought Juarez, as quickly as his opponent begins mixing in strikes and takedowns, he form of falls aside. I believe that is the trail to victory.”
Camilo has by no means fought in Azerbaijan earlier than, however sees the South Korean’s victory over Drovushov Nabotov, which earned him a UFC contract in 2024, as the proper expertise to organize him for such an journey. Camilo lives in Las Vegas, his two UFC appearances have been within the continental United States, and touring overseas helps him focus solely on the job at hand.
“The vitality right here is second to none,” Camilo mentioned. “I can not wait to battle right here. If you battle in a spot like this, you must get out of your regular world and utterly give attention to the battle. It takes you out of your consolation zone, proper? That is what I get pleasure from a lot. It was the identical after I fought in South Korea. The tradition is totally different, the language is totally different, the individuals are totally different. That helped me so much. … The local weather right here is definitely so much like Brazil, scorching and humid, so I felt at residence as quickly as I arrived.”
“That is precisely the form of matchup I needed,” Sadikhov mentioned after Camilo earned his first Octagon victory in November 2025, defeating Slava Borshchev by choice regardless of struggling an damage throughout the battle.
“He is an excellent opponent and an excellent striker, so it may be an ideal battle,” Camilo mentioned. “We’re going to pitch, dude.”
The 25-year-old light-weight is hopeful that his victory over Sadikhov in Baku will “open a giant door” and “create new alternatives for me within the UFC,” however he has chosen to give attention to the duty at hand slightly than occupied with what sort of matchups are assured sooner or later.
“Now we have to beat this man first,” Camilo mentioned.
No matter occurs subsequent, Camilo is already grateful to be taking the journey he is dreamed of since he was a teen in Akko. In 2024, a 12 months earlier than his UFC debut, the Brazilian hopeful was working as a rideshare driver in the USA, coaching and preventing whereas ready for a name.
“What I really feel right here, brother, is gratitude,” Camilo mentioned. “I’ve felt that method ever since I first stepped foot right here. I thank God for all the things. I nonetheless bear in mind after I first began coaching as a child. I had a dream to compete on this sport and journey the world. Now I am residing that dream. There’s a lot that I can not cease to be pleased about. In order that’s how I actually really feel proper now. I am simply grateful. I am so glad and actually excited for the chance they’ve given me.”
