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Losene Keita clicked “edit” and smiled.
“U-F-C,” he typed into his Instagram bio. “F-i-g-h-t-e-r.”
His smile broke into a full-on chuckle.
“I was laughing,” Keita told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “I was like, ‘Holy sh*t, I’m a UFC fighter now.’ After nine years of hard work, I can call myself a UFC fighter. It’s great.”
Keita (16-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and his team had engaged with the UFC in years past, but the timing wasn’t right. After Keita dominated the European scene and won two OKTAGON titles, however, talks restarted, and this time, things were different.
He campaigned publicly in mid-July and asked during an interview with MMA Junkie for Sean Shelby to give him a call. When his management’s phone rang, however, it was UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell instead.
“It was the morning. I was going for breakfast, and my manager called me, ‘Welcome to UFC.’ They talked with Hunter and Hunter gave me a good contract,” Keita said.
Not only did Keita receive a satisfactory deal, he was given a top-ranked opponent. He’ll face all-time Bellator great Patricio ‘Pitbull’ at UFC Fight Night 258 on Sept. 6 at Accor Arena in Paris.
“It feels great, especially that they respect me,” Keita said. “I got some good offers and good contract. I feel great. … Coming to featherweight and fighting the No. 11 guy, I have the opportunity to be also ranked. It’s a great opportunity. It’s whoa.”
“Pitbull” (37-8 MMA, 1-1 UFC) debuted in a loss vs. Yair Rodriguez, but then bounced back with a win over Dan Ige. Keita has a world of respect for “Pitbull” and all he’s accomplished.
“He’s a great fighter. For me, he’s one of the best featherweights of all time. He’s definitely the best featherweight in Bellator. But I just see him like a fighter. I know I can take him down. I don’t have a choice. I need to beat him. That’s it.”
“… I feel he’s still dangerous. He still has the power. Even for his age, he still has the power. He beat the No. 11-ranked guy. He beat Dan Ige. And everybody knows Dan Ige is an exciting fighter. If he can beat Dan Ige, that makes his still dangerous. For me, I don’t listen to what people say. To me, he’s still a dangerous fighter.”
Refusing to look past “Pitbull,” Keita didn’t want to discuss his longer-term future but acknowledged the possibility he may not be too far from a title shot despite his debutant status.
“I hope so, but I don’t really want to think about the title,” Keita said. “It’s a big (opponent). I just want to deal with Patricio and focus on Patricio. That’s it. For the rest, I just focus on the win, and the rest will come. But like I said, I didn’t sign with the organization to be a gatekeeper and say I was part of the company. No, I want to be a champion. I want to make history.”
Keita has repeatedly vowed to “Make featherweight great again,” and plans to emphatically announce his arrival through his performance in Paris.
“They can all get it,” Keita said. “Everybody can get it. I’m a fighter and I know I can fight. It’s the only thing I know best. If it’s fighting, I can fight. Everyone can get it.”
