Ramil Kamilov finds himself in the kind of spot most mixed martial artists only dream about.
Hailing from Calgary, Alta., Kamilov (2-0) gets the opportunity to headline Absolute MMA 1 before his home fans on Saturday evening as he meets Kris Allard (2-3) in a lightweight bout.
The 24-year-old Kamilov arrives at the event having put in the usual hard work, training alongside Anthony Pettis on technical aspects and handling management responsibilities as well.
Even though Allard hasn't stepped inside the cage for more than two years, Kamilov insists he knows the challenge will prove far harder than his opponent's record suggests.
"You can be fighting a guy that's like 1-1, 2-1 out here type of deal but if that same guy was in the U.S., he would be the same level as a dude who has a lot more fights. As far as Kris Allard goes, he has got a few losses, but all of those were to really good guys. He lost to a 4-0 striker, undefeated prospect and he lost to Adam De Freitas. Again, that guy has got a bad record but that guy is a black belt and I believe he's got professional boxing experience," said Kamilov in an interview with MMA Empire.
"So really he seems like an easy fight, but when taking that fight I was like man, it's not the type of fight you just run through. It's not the type of fight that looks tough on paper but it's easy in the cage. He's the exact opposite of that. He may look easy on paper, but that guy's definitely a tough fight, man. Preparing with everything I've got. As always, going with the toughest sparring partners, doing the toughest work I can possibly do, doing everything and more that I can possibly do to prepare for this guy. On June 25, I'll be ready."
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