The landscape of the UFC has changed considerably since Allan Nascimento`s last appearance in the octagon.
At the time of his last fight, a submission victory over Carlos Hernandez in January 2023, prominent figures like Amanda Nunes were still competing, Aljamain Sterling and Francis Ngannou held championship belts, and Alex Pereira and Jon Jones had not yet transitioned to new weight divisions.
Nascimento is set to end the longest layoff of his UFC tenure, an astounding 868 days, this Saturday when he faces Jafel Filho at UFC Vegas 107. This extended break wasn`t without its challenges.
“It’s been crazy, really complicated,” Nascimento told MMA Fighting, addressing the long absence. “This sport demands tremendous physical output. I’ve faced obstacles along the way, dealing with injuries and health problems that led to fight cancellations. Thankfully, I`m in good health now.”
Following his second consecutive UFC win, Nascimento was forced to withdraw from scheduled bouts against Tim Elliott and Sumudaerji. After undergoing knee surgery and recovering, he had to pull out of an initial meeting with Filho just days before their planned August clash. The Chute Boxe fighter was also slated for a March return, but his opponent, Asu Almabayev, was moved to the main event against Manel Kape.
Nascimento elaborated on the nature of MMA: “MMA is highly unpredictable because it doesn`t follow seasons, making structured periodization difficult. You have to stay prepared year-round, constantly awaiting a fight date. This means training for 365 days. It`s inherent to the sport – an aggressive competition with sometimes only three or four fights annually despite 300 days of hard training. This increases the likelihood of injuries and significant issues.”
Despite his nearly 900-day absence from competition, the Brazilian flyweight dedicated much of that time to training and developing new skills in the gym. He feels ready to deliver a top performance upon his return. Nascimento revealed that he has incorporated yoga into his routine to overcome his past health struggles.
He explained, “I learned to manage my training load better. While I`ve been out for two and a half years, I`ve focused not just on fighting technique but also started doing yoga, for instance. It has helped immensely. We can’t solely concentrate on the physical fighting aspects; fighters must also care for their mental state to execute their strategy in the cage. Yoga has been a significant asset for me lately.”
Regarding their fighting styles, both Filho and Nascimento are known as submission experts, representing two of Brazil`s most respected MMA gyms, Nova União and Chute Boxe. Nascimento anticipates a strategic `chess match` when they meet at the UFC APEX this Saturday.
Though hesitant to definitively state whose jiu-jitsu is superior, Nascimento feels confident in his preparation. “It’s hard to say ‘my [jiu-jitsu] is better,’ but I feel better prepared, with my jiu-jitsu more refined,” he stated. “I`m a black belt under Master Barbosa, which speaks volumes about how much he`s taught me and helped me adapt my jiu-jitsu from gi competition to MMA. We know they are different.”
He added, “I’ve demonstrated this throughout most of my career. I believe the fight will be a chess match, possibly decided more by who makes fewer mistakes than who fights better overall. We both understand our strengths. Jafel is a well-rounded fighter; we know he’s comfortable striking and possesses polished jiu-jitsu. We each have areas we can exploit, so the outcome will depend on who capitalizes on those opportunities more effectively during the fight.”
