Allan Nascimento wants top 15 status after UFC Vegas 119 but ‘there’s no logic’ in rankings

Allan Nascimento is frustrated that a four-fight win streak has not earned him a ranking in the UFC flyweight division, despite being five fights into what he hopes will be a fifth consecutive victory at UFC Vegas 119 against Mitch Raposo on Saturday.

The Chute Boxe fighter battled through injuries between 2022 and 2024 but has regained momentum in 2025 with wins over Jafel Filho and a bonus-winning submission of Cody Durden. However, he remains unranked while watching lower-ranked fighters enter the top 15 who lack his recent record of success.

"The rankings are totally influenced by the people who make them," Nascimento told MMA Fighting, questioning the logic behind seeing a previously unranked fighter debut at No. 15 while he remains outside the top 15 on a four-fight streak. "There's no logic to it."

Nascimento acknowledged that while he desires a top-15 ranking, the outcome ultimately rests with the voting panel rather than his performances alone. He emphasized that consistency and activity matter in MMA more than other sports, where athletes compete far more frequently. A loss in combat sports carries outsized consequences, he noted, potentially derailing momentum and career trajectory. Beating Raposo—an opponent he views as explosive but winnable—would bolster his ranking case while maintaining the schedule rhythm that benefits every fighter.

Nascimento also defended his friend Charles Oliveira's BMF title win over Max Holloway earlier this year, arguing that critics who dismissed the bout as entertainment-focused missed Oliveira's technical dominance and high-level jiu-jitsu. While the UFC values spectacle, especially with Paramount+ involvement, Nascimento stressed that wins ultimately matter more than thrilling performances. Fighters can entertain and lose their way out of the promotion; victories alone guarantee longevity.