Matheus Camilo prepares for UFC clash with Nazim Sadykhov in Baku

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Matheus Camilo landed in Azerbaijan for a UFC clash with Nazim Sadykhov at Saturday’s Fight Night show in Baku, but he believes the pressure is on the shoulders of the local talent. Sadykhov enters the cage coming off the first loss of his UFC career, a second-round knockout to Fares Ziam in 2025, after an unbeaten five-fight start in the promotion with three Fight of the Night bonuses cashed. For Camilo, being in front of more than 10,000 fans at the National Gymnastics Arena could come with mixed effects. “I think any fighter coming off a loss already feels more pressure, especially when they’re fighting at home,” Camilo told MMA Fighting. “I believe he’s going to be under a lot of pressure. And from what I’ve seen in his fights, like when he fought Fares, he kind of falls apart as soon as his opponent starts mixing up the striking with takedowns. I think that’s the path to victory.” Camilo has never fought in Azerbaijan before, but looks at his South Korea win over Dorobshokh Nabotov, the victory that earned him a contract with the UFC in 2024, as the perfect experience to get him prepared for such adventure. Camilo lives in Las Vegas and had his two UFC appearances happen in U.S. soil, and traveling overseas helps focus solely on the task ahead. “The energy here is second to none,” Camilo said. “I can’t wait to fight here. When you’re competing somewhere like this, you have to step outside your usual world and focus entirely on the fight. It takes you out of your comfort zone, you know? I really enjoy that. It was the same when I fought in South Korea. Different culture, different language, different people. That helped me a lot. … The weather here is actually pretty similar to Brazil, hot and humid, so I felt right at home as soon as I arrived.” Camilo said that Sadykhov is “exactly the kind of matchup I want” after securing his first octagon victory in November 2025, when he beat Slava Borshchev via decision despite suffering an injury during the fight. “He’s a good opponent, a good striker, so it’s going to be a great fight,” Camilo said. “We’re going to throw down, man.” The 25-year-old lightweight expects “a huge door about to open” and “create new opportunities for me in the UFC” with a win over Sadykhov in Baku, but chooses to focus on the task ahead instead of wonder which match-ups it could secure him down the line. “I have to beat this guy first,” Camilo said. Whatever comes next, Camilo already feels grateful to be on a journey he’s dreamt of for since he was a teenager in Acre. In 2024, a year before making his UFC debut, the Brazilian prospect was working as a rideshare driver in the United States, training and fighting while waiting for the call. “The feeling I have being here, brother, is gratitude,” Camilo said. “Ever since the first time I set foot here, that’s been the feeling. Gratitude to God for everything. I can still remember when I was a kid and first started training, I had this dream of fighting and traveling the world through this sport. I’m living that dream today. Sometimes we have so much that we don’t stop to be thankful, so that’s really how I’m feeling right now. Just grateful. I’m very happy for the opportunity they’ve given me, and I’m really excited.”

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Matheus Camilo beat Slava Borshchev in his most recent UFC fight