Nazim Sadykhov is set to meet Matheus Camilo on the main card of UFC Fight Night 280 at the Crystal Palace in Baku, Azerbaijan, and he’s embracing his role as the more seasoned lightweight.
Sadykhov enters the matchup with an 11-2-1 professional record, including 4-1-1 in the UFC, while Camilo holds a 10-3 mark in MMA and is 1-1 inside the Octagon. Sadykhov describes Camilo as a young, rising contender but believes experience will be on his side.
"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 said. "It's simple: I'm more skilled. I'm more experienced. I'm the veteran in this one."
Sadykhov was close to becoming a ranked lightweight before a stoppage loss to Fares Ziam, his first UFC defeat and his first loss since 2018. Reflecting on that setback, he said, "I didn't make excuses then, I won't tell you excuses now," and added, "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."
Recently, Sadykhov also opened a gym in Las Vegas with Charlie and George Quinn, further shaping the team around him ahead of UFC Fight Night 280.
