Las Vegas, NV — Brazilian flyweight Allan Nascimento secured the first submission, and finish, of his UFC career on Saturday night at UFC Vegas 67.
The standing rear-naked choke of Carlos Hernandez was slick, and later earned the 31-year old one of four Performance of the Night bonuses handed out after the event.
“Puro Osso” was in good spirits following the victory, speaking to media outlets including Cageside Press.
“I’m so happy with the submission, my first submission with my black belt in jiu-jitsu,” said Nascimento (20-6), practically glowing following the bout. “I’m so happy with my second victory [in] the UFC. Let’s make the next step.”
As he announced in the cage following the victory, the Brazilian was awarded his black belt ahead of the fight with Hernandez. Nascimento spent two years as a brown belt, he stated following Saturday’s win, “but the purple belt, a long time, like seven years. I don’t know why. But I’m so happy with the black belt.”
The fight appeared to be over when Hernandez made a key mistake by standing up with Nascimento on his back, allowing him to lock up the choke. That wasn’t necessarily happenstance, however.
“I trained a lot, this position in Brazil, and my partners had big trouble with me on the back,” noted Nascimento. “I just come here and make this happen. I would like to [do] more striking, but it’s an opportunity [in the] fight, and I got [him].”
While he missed the UFC 283 card in Rio by a week, Allan Nascimento added that he’d like to fight there next time.
“The UFC deserves this show in Rio de Janeiro. I would like to fight in Rio next time, I don’t know when. It’s a good card, very good fights. I stay there, next week. Let’s [see] two belts for Brazil.”
On the off chance the promotion offers a short-notice spot on the Rio card, however, Nascimento would be down for the one week turnaround — but up a weight class. “In bantamweight yes, in flyweight, I think no.”
Watch the full UFC Vegas 67 post-fight press scrum with Allan Nascimento above.
