Losene Keita was set to face Patrício Pitbul in his UFC debut. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram.
Losene Keita 's UFC debut against Patrício Pitbull at UFC Paris didn't happen because of the Belgian fighter. He signed with the UFC earlier this year while still the lightweight champion of Oktagon MMA . He was scheduled to face the former two-time Bellator champion at the Accor Arena, but the scales prevented him from making weight. However, this is far from being a reason for him to be fired, according to the UFC's senior vice president of international operations, David Shaw.
“I believe so (he will have another chance). Honestly, I don’t know the details. I think some of us were surprised that the fight didn’t happen, but anyway, it will be good to have him on the roster. He wasn’t cut – not that I know of,” Shaw said in a press conference after UFC Paris.
Keita lives in Belgium. After coming in about a kilo and a half over the weight limit for the featherweight division (up to 65,7kg), he was the target of attacks from Patrício Pitbull . The Brazilian said that the UFC had already given his opponent enough advantages by making Pitbull travel from Brazil to Europe, and his lack of professionalism, not knowing his weight, ended the fight.
Pitbull is a former Bellator featherweight and lightweight champion (up to 70,3 kg). After years in the organization, and considered the company's greatest fighter of all time, Patrício arrived at the UFC earlier this year after requesting his release from the PFL, which purchased Bellator.
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