LAS VEGAS – Nazim Sadykhov won’t let Matheus Camilo make a name off of him.
Sadykhov (11-2-1 MMA, 4-1-1 UFC) takes on Camilo (10-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 280 (Paramount+) main card at Crystal Palace in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Advertisement
Sadykhov was on the brink of becoming a ranked lightweight until a stoppage loss to Fares Ziam set him back. He now takes on a young, rising contender – a role that he doesn’t take lightly.
“Hard-nose, powerful guy, size, likes to throw heavy, wrestle heavy, grapple heavy – but I’m going to have puzzles for him he won’t be able to solve,” Sadykhov told MMA Junkie of Camilo. “It’s simple: I’m more skilled. I’m more experienced. I’m the veteran in this one.
“I think this is the first time in the UFC where I’m actually going to be the veteran, and I’m going to take full advantage. I feel great, I had an amazing camp with amazing people, I surrounded myself with purely professionals, the best of the best, so I’m more ready than ever before. I’m hungrier and angrier to get back and show everybody who I am.”
Sadykhov’s loss to Ziam marked his first in the UFC and his first since 2018. He has since opened a gym with friends Charlie and George Quinn in Las Vegas, and vows to make his camp change pay dividends.
Advertisement
“I didn’t make excuses then, I won’t tell you excuses now,” Sadykhov said. “I did not show up that night. There was many reasons for that, but (Saturday) – or, forget (Saturday). That could never happen again. Physically, that could never happen again. I won’t allow it. We changed the whole scenario since then. We changed everything, so the version of me that’s showing up (Saturday) is going to be the version you see show up better and better every time going forward.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Nazim Sadykhov: Matheus Camilo will have a hard time figuring me out
