Allan Nascimento`s last appearance in the UFC octagon was in a vastly different era for the promotion.
When “Puro Osso” secured a submission victory over Carlos Hernandez in January 2023, the UFC landscape featured active champions like Amanda Nunes, Aljamain Sterling, and Francis Ngannou, while Alex Pereira and Jon Jones remained in different weight categories.
Nascimento is set to end the longest break of his UFC tenure, an 868-day absence, by facing Jafel Filho this Saturday at UFC Vegas 107. The journey back involved navigating numerous challenges over this extended period.
“It`s quite unbelievable, truly complicated,” Nascimento commented. “MMA requires immense physical dedication. I encountered significant obstacles, including injuries and health problems that forced cancellations of scheduled bouts. Thankfully, I`m in good health now.”
After securing his second consecutive UFC victory, Nascimento was sidelined from planned fights against Tim Elliott and Sumudaerji. Post knee surgery recovery, he had to pull out of an August matchup against Filho during fight week itself. His scheduled return in March was also thwarted when his opponent, Asu Almabayev, was moved to a main event slot against Manel Kape.
Nascimento described MMA as highly uncertain, noting, “You don`t have distinct seasons, which complicates structuring training cycles. Athletes must remain constantly ready, perpetually awaiting a fight date, essentially training year-round. This is inherent to the sport – an intense discipline where competing a few times a year requires extensive training, inevitably increasing the likelihood of injuries or significant issues.”
Although he hasn`t competed in the octagon for almost 900 days, the Brazilian flyweight dedicated much of this period to training and learning. He expressed confidence in delivering a strong performance upon his return. To address his recurring health setbacks, Nascimento revealed he incorporated yoga into his routine.
“I`ve learned to manage my training intensity more effectively,” he explained. “During this two-and-a-half-year break, I focused not just on physical preparation but also on practices like yoga, which has been immensely beneficial. It`s crucial for fighters to address mental well-being, not solely the combat elements of training, to execute their strategy in the cage. Yoga, in particular, has been a significant advantage for me recently.”
Regarding their martial arts backgrounds, both Filho and Nascimento are recognized submission experts hailing from prestigious Brazilian MMA gyms, Nova União and Chute Boxe, respectively. Nascimento anticipates their bout at the UFC APEX on Saturday night will resemble a strategic chess match.
“It`s difficult to claim my jiu-jitsu is superior, but I feel exceptionally well-prepared and my jiu-jitsu is finely tuned,” Nascimento stated. “As a black belt under Master Barbosa, his guidance in adapting my jiu-jitsu from gi competition to MMA has been invaluable and speaks for itself. We recognize the distinct demands.”
“I believe I`ve demonstrated this capability throughout my career. I anticipate the fight will be more about minimizing errors than simply outfighting the other. Both of us understand our strengths; therefore, success will likely hinge on the fine details. Jafel is a well-rounded competitor, comfortable striking and possessing refined jiu-jitsu. We each have particular areas we can capitalize on, and the outcome will depend on who executes this strategy more effectively in the fight.”
