The Chute Boxe team in São Paulo is paying tribute to UFC flyweight Allan Nascimento, who died unexpectedly at age 34. One month after his death, teammates and coaches say they remain committed to preserving his influence inside and outside mixed martial arts.
Diego Lima Institute to Take Allan Nascimento’s Name
Nascimento was found dead on Aug. 3 after suffering an apparent heart attack in his sleep. His death deeply affected the Brazilian MMA community, particularly those at Chute Boxe who had trained and worked alongside him for years.
Diego Lima, who began coaching Nascimento when the fighter was 14, announced that the Diego Lima Institute will be renamed the Allan Nascimento Institute in his honor.
“There hasn’t been a single day when I haven’t cried,” Lima told MMA Fighting. “Our institute today, the Diego Lima Institute, is not going to be called the Diego Lima Institute anymore. It’s going to be called the Allan Nascimento Institute. As long as I live, I will honor his name. As long as I live, I will say his name because he was my student, he is my student, he is my athlete.”
The renaming will provide a permanent tribute to Nascimento and reflect the lasting role he played within the São Paulo-based training organization.
Nascimento Was a Trusted Friend and Business Partner
Nascimento’s relationship with Lima extended far beyond their work as athlete and coach. The UFC flyweight was also Lima’s business partner and helped manage several fighters.
Lima said the pair had planned for Nascimento to assume greater management responsibilities after ending his fighting career. Their long-term plan called for both men to retire from their current roles at roughly the same time.
“He was one of the most loyal friends I’ve ever had in my life,” Lima said. “He was my business partner. A lot of people didn’t know this, but when it came to all my management affairs, he was my partner. I would always have the conversations and negotiations, but the email account was ours, so all the emails, everything, was with him. And I used to joke with him that when he retired, I would retire too. He was going to fight until he was around 40 years old. That was our plan. Maybe he would go a little beyond that, maybe not, but and as soon as he retired, I was going to retire too, because then he would take care of everything. Those plans ended up changing a little bit.”
Nascimento’s death brought an abrupt end to those plans, leaving Lima and the wider team to adjust personally and professionally.
Chute Boxe Fighters Pledge to Continue His Legacy
Norma Dumont Remembers His Discipline and Integrity
UFC bantamweight Norma Dumont, who trained with Nascimento in São Paulo, described him as a role model whose conduct earned the respect of the entire team.
“It’s hard to talk about because Allan was an example to all of us,” Dumont said. “He was a guy who had impeccable conduct, both inside and outside the mats. The team was hit very hard, but we are getting back on our feet. Everyone is getting back on their feet and slowly returning to normal. We see Lima still very upset, still having a very hard time dealing with the situation, but I think it brought the team together a lot. Everyone became even more determined to represent him up there. It’s a legacy that will stay with all of us. What Allan represents to our team is discipline, honor, integrity, and being a great athlete, and that legacy will continue.”
Although Chute Boxe continues to grieve, its fighters and coaches are gradually returning to their routines. Through the institute’s new name and the team’s commitment to representing his values, Nascimento’s legacy will remain a central part of the organization.
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