Allan Nascimento, once a hot prospect in Brazilian MMA, has found success in the UFC and attributes his growth to his role as a cornerman for Chute Boxe leader Diego Lima, stating that the perspective gained from this role has been invaluable in his own fights.
In the early 2010s, UFC was all the rage in Brazil. Anderson Silva was a superstar, and Allan Nascimento was a hot prospect in Brazilian MMA. But, things have changed, you know?
Nascimento had a rough time in regional shows before finally making it to UFC a decade later. Now, he’s more mature and ready for the octagon’s challenges. One of his secrets? Assisting Chute Boxe leader Diego Lima as a cornerman. He revealed this on MMA Fighting’s Trocação Franca podcast.
Nascimento chuckled, “It’s been a while since I was called an MMA prospect, this up-and-coming kid. Time flies.” He added, “Thankfully, I’ve made a name for myself in MMA. I’ve been with Diego Lima for 16 years now. We’ve got great chemistry. Many fighters trust me and like having me in their corner. It’s a win-win.”
Chute Boxe has 10 fighters under UFC contract, including former lightweight champ Charles Oliveira. Nascimento has been in their corners many times over the years. “Puro Osso”, as he’s known, has two consecutive UFC wins in the flyweight division. He’ll fly to Mexico in February to corner Daniel Santos and Felipe dos Santos.
Being an active fighter and cornerman helps Nascimento in many ways. He explained, “The perspective from outside is different. It helps trust the cornerman’s advice. Sometimes, in the octagon, we hear them but follow our own strategy. As a cornerman, I tell my fighter what they need to hear. I think, ‘I’ll listen to him because it’s likely to happen.’ That learning is crucial.”
Nascimento won’t be in Oliveira’s corner for the former champ’s next match. But he’s confident that “do Bronx” will reclaim the UFC belt for the team in 2024 if he’s next for Islam Makhachev. A rematch was expected in October after Oliveira defeated Beneil Dariush in June, but Oliveira pulled out due to a cut.
“The whole team is working towards that,” said Nascimento. “We’re just waiting for the date, time, and place. We’ll be there. It’s the fight that makes the most sense for everyone involved, UFC, Charles, and Makhachev. It’s a tough fight, he’s the champ today, but I think Charles has a different mindset now. The idea is not to give Makhachev any openings.”