It’s not usually a regional fighter declines a number of UFC presents, however that’s precisely what high prospect Losene Keita did earlier than signing a brand new deal to stick with Europe-based promotion Oktagon MMA.
The 26-year-old fighter, who moved to Belgium from Guinea when he was only a boy, all the time dreamed of shining beneath the brightest lights within the UFC. It’s a fantasy he nonetheless hopes to satisfy at some point, however Keita simply didn’t really feel the time was proper when the UFC got here calling.
“Oktagon is sort of a residence for me,” Keita instructed MMA Combating. “Oktagon gave me loads of possibilities and the followers love me and I’m extremely popular there. For me, the UFC was my first choice, however I’m like, why ought to I depart my residence to go some other place?
“I’m 26 years outdated, I’ve document, I’m nonetheless studying on a regular basis. I can nonetheless have loads of expertise earlier than going to the UFC. I by no means say the UFC dream is completed, however for me, Oktagon is now my residence and I’m blissful there.”
Keita admits it’s unattainable for cash to not play some half in the place he fights, however it’s not the one consider his choice to stay with Oktagon over the UFC. Whereas he definitely appreciates that the UFC sees him as an asset price a number of presents, Keita felt like Oktagon actually understood his worth to the group.
Keita is presently the featherweight and light-weight champion of Oktagon.
“[UFC tried to sign me] 3 times already,” Keita revealed. “It doesn’t occur, however I don’t suppose loads of fighters are in my footwear. That’s why it doesn’t occur [very often]. I’m getting paid and I’m getting paid effectively in Oktagon. I’m one of many greatest stars there.
“Going to the UFC, preventing for $12,000 [to show] and $12,000 [to win] or $15,000 and $15,000 is loopy. I do know the UFC is the largest group and I do know my price. In Oktagon, they know my price, they respect my price. That’s it.”
Maybe the closest instance of one other athlete choosing a route much like the one Keita travels now could be present UFC star Paddy Pimblett, who additionally turned down a number of presents from the promotion earlier than lastly signing there as a free agent in 2021.
Pimblett overtly said that he needed extra time to develop his recreation and really feel actually prepared for the competitors he’d face within the UFC. The choice appeared to work out effectively for him; Pimblett is undefeated in 5 UFC appearances and has turn into one of many promotion’s greatest names over the previous couple of years.
Keita understands the comparisons he’ll get to Pimblett as a result of they each handed on UFC presents, however he guarantees they couldn’t be additional aside outdoors of that lone similarity.
“I do know if I am going to the UFC, I don’t need to be a contender. I need to be the champ,” Keita mentioned. “I need to be a double champion within the UFC. It’s not the time but to go to the UFC. I’m studying on a regular basis. I’ve been six or seven years in MMA, I’m nonetheless younger, so now is just not the time. Additionally, financially, it’s not the time.
“I’m not boastful however I’m assured. I could be within the UFC proper now and be within the high 10. Paddy, I might beat him within the first spherical proper now truly. I’m prepared [for the UFC]. The primary time [UFC reached out], they gave me an opponent, I already had the date, the whole lot, however financially I really feel nice in Oktagon, it’s my residence. I stroll on the road and everyone is aware of me. I am going to the UFC, I’m no one there but. I do know that may change fast, however I’m hooked up to the followers of Oktagon so I don’t need to change that but.”
Keita says he additionally handed on a suggestion from PFL to affix the corporate’s featherweight season, the place eight fighters compete for the possibility to win a $1 million grand prize.
As a lot as he appreciates the curiosity, Keita commends Oktagon for placing up that very same sum of money for their very own light-weight match, which matches down Saturday in Germany. Keita is, in fact, part of that match.
“Essentially the most fascinating one was truly PFL, as a result of PFL needed me within the $1 million featherweight match,” Keita defined. “It’s an ideal deal truly. However I mentioned I can win 1,000,000 there or I can win 1,000,000 right here, however one place I’m residence and one different place I’m not residence.”
Keita is aware of there’s danger hooked up to staying in Oktagon relatively than simply taking the provide to affix the UFC. He already confronted that type of adversity in his solely skilled loss after Keita broke his leg in a struggle again in July 2023, which serves as the one defeat on his document.
He bounced again relatively rapidly with a knockout win this previous December, and now Keita is laser targeted on the light-weight match beginning for him on Saturday.
Keita expects the UFC will ultimately search him out once more, and if the time is true, he’ll clearly take heed to the provide. However for now, he’s blissful listening to his identify being chanted by 20,000 rabid followers nearer to residence.
“Think about a child from the road, strolling into an area with 20,000 individuals screaming your identify. It’s loopy,” Keita mentioned. “So think about going to PFL now and I have to stroll out and no one is aware of me. I do know I can change that round rapidly, however I don’t need to try this to the followers.
“Each time I see the followers chanting my identify, there’s only a feeling strolling into the sector with 20,000 individuals screaming your identify, it’s simply loopy.”
