Calgary's Ramil Kamilov is chasing yet another amateur championship belt.
The former XFFC welterweight champion Kamilov (6-3) is traveling back to Quebec to battle Charles Azoulay (2-1) for the vacant MFL lightweight championship at MFL 19 on Saturday evening.
Kamilov has navigated a fairly consistent ascent as an amateur, with a handful of losses along the way. He credits much of his progress to training in a top-tier environment.
"Champions Creed is an incredible gym," Kamilov told MMA Empire. "How could I not highlight Hakeem Dawodu, who I've sparred alongside since I was a teenager and now serves as a key sparring partner for most of his UFC bouts?"
"I'm surrounded by excellent sparring partners and a roster of up-and-coming amateurs eager to learn from my experience. Everyone here, including the retired veterans (special thanks to Will Monzon), continues to push me. I envision our gym evolving into a genuine powerhouse within five years."
At 24, Kamilov has traveled a significant distance since entering the cage in 2017, and the perennial competitor has truly hit his stride over the past twelve months.
"Aggression no longer drives everything I do," Kamilov explained.
"That fire remains, but I've learned how to direct it and manage it effectively."
Regarding preparation for his title contest, Kamilov revealed he hasn't built his game plan around Azoulay's particular style.
Instead, he focuses on personal growth and constantly seeks areas for improvement inside the gym.
"I've been training consistently since my previous bout," Kamilov noted. "In reality, I log more hours outside of formal fight camp at a reduced intensity. That's when I absorb new techniques and develop as a martial artist."
"Fight camp involves shorter sessions at higher intensity, which brings me to peak condition and calibrates my weight. This approach eliminates the stress of picking up new skills while mentally fatigued and cutting weight. It also means missing a session from exhaustion doesn't derail my progress."
Regardless of who stands on the opposite side of the cage, Kamilov promises to deliver an entertaining performance for spectators.
He believes his commitment to the sport distinguishes him from competitors at this tier.
"My mindset, work ethic, willingness to learn, and ambition to measure myself against only the elite—that's what separates me," Kamilov stated.
Undoubtedly, this marks the largest platform Kamilov has faced in his brief career, yet he feels fully equipped for the challenge.
True to form, he'll step toward his rival with deep respect and serious competitive intent. Kamilov acknowledges Azoulay is coming off a strong training camp and welcomes whatever obstacles await on fight night.
"Charles Azoulay trains at the highly respected, storied Tristar Gym," Kamilov said.
"I haven't come across much video of him. All I've seen is a handful of exchanges from one of his 2018 matches. Over three years, a fighter can develop tremendously, so I can't assume he'd possess the same abilities as before. What I do know is he's taller than me, possesses a durable chin, fights aggressively, shows strong heart, and has excellent cardio. I expect an engaging contest; we'll discover who dominates that ring on July 24."
Kamilov's Shoutouts
"My coach and mentor Brian Bird at Champions Creed. Also to my sponsors from day one before anybody knew about me or cared about me – Deagla Shawarma for helping me make this cut to 155. I couldn't do it without their homemade pita bread shawarmas. Wisemen Barbershop for giving me the best fades. They are also in the same plaza in Legacy as the Deagla shop, so you can stop by to get a cut and get a donair. Scalp Tech Inc. – a local scalp micro pigmentation specialist to help my balding brothers. @knoledge47 on Instagram – a Montreal jeweler that ships Canada wide. He's hooking me up with a new chain to go with my new belt!" Follow Kamilov on social media: FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM
