Undefeated fighter Dorobshokh Nabotov initially drew attention at the UFC 308 press conference in Abu Dhabi, directly asking Dana White for an opportunity to compete in the octagon. However, the narrative shifted dramatically as Matheus Camilo emerged from a subsequent fight to ultimately earn the coveted contract with the promotion.
Instead of placing Nabotov directly onto Dana White`s Contender Series, White arranged a fight for him against Matheus Camilo at a Z Fight Night event in South Korea, founded by former UFC contender “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung. Watching the bout from home alongside Matt Serra and Din Thomas in December, White observed Camilo deliver a dominant performance. Utilizing effective calf kicks and persistent submission attempts, Camilo secured a victory via decision.
Reflecting on the situation on an episode of Lookin` For A Fight, White commented, “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`s professional record now stands at 9-2. He was set to make his promotional debut inside the UFC APEX against Gabe Green at UFC Vegas 106.
Camilo himself acknowledged the setup, telling MMA Fighting, “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.”
Though Camilo won the decision, he initially believed not getting a finish might cost him a contract. However, a vlog released by White revealed the UFC CEO`s genuine excitement over Camilo`s performance. At one point during the fight, due to Nabotov`s limited offense, it appeared White was actively rooting for the then 24-year-old Brazilian.
White personally conveyed the good news to Camilo via video conference after the fight. “Matheus, you looked unbelievable,” White stated. “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, praising his potential, “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, saying, “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.”
Following the fight, Camilo returned to his training base in Las Vegas, awaiting the call for his octagon debut. His scheduled fight against Gabe Green held significant personal weight, occurring almost exactly five years after the passing of his father, who had been one of his earliest and strongest supporters.
Recalling his father`s influence, Camilo stated, “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.”
The immense grief led Camilo to consider abandoning his fighting career, but his mother provided crucial encouragement, refusing to let him quit. She facilitated his return to Rio de Janeiro to train with his idol, Jose Aldo, before he eventually relocated to Las Vegas in pursuit of larger opportunities. With his father`s death occurring on May 15, 2020, Camilo’s first official week as a signed UFC fighter marked a deeply meaningful milestone.
Looking back on his journey, Camilo shared, “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.”
Camilo`s opponent, Gabe Green, held a UFC record of 2-3 with losses against high-level competitors such as Ian Machado Garry, Bryan Battle, and Daniel Rodriguez. Recognizing Green`s experience against tough opposition, Camilo did not anticipate an easy night in the cage.
Expressing his readiness for the challenge, Camilo affirmed, “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.”
