Losene Keita

Losene Keita (born December 30, 1997) is a Guinean-born Belgian mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He most notably competed in the Featherweight and Lightweight divisions of Oktagon MMA, where he was the former two-time Oktagon Lightweight Champion and Oktagon Featherweight Champion, along with holding the interim titles in both divisions.

Early life Keita was born in Conakry, Guinea and lived there until he was 11. Then he moved with his family to Paris in France and moved to Kortrijk in Belgium and lives there to this day. Keita holds both Belgian and French nationalities. As a child, he played basketball and football. He also had trouble dealing with emotions at school, which is why he constantly got into fights. Even on the streets, he got into a lot of trouble, which is why the police constantly showed up at his doorstep. All the bad things that Keita did led to him being imprisoned for four months. After he got out, he continued to get into street fights because of his reputation. A friend of Keita's saw talent in him, eventually inviting him to a mixed martial arts club. After some thought and consideration, Keita agreed to go there and after his first training session, he became addicted to the discipline of MMA.

Mixed martial arts career Early career After two months of training, he had his first fight, having over eight amateur fights in total, after which he turned professional in 2019 because no one else would continue to fight him as an amateur.

On March 5, 2019, in his professional debut, he defeated Gracjan Golebiowski by a decision at Strength & Honor Championship 15 in Dessel. Until his 6th professional fight, Keita fought exclusively in the welterweight and then lightweight, apart from some amateur fights.

He won his second professional fight again on points, this time against Karol Michalak at Atlas MMA 6, which took place in the Netherlands.

In his last, third fight in 2019, Keita defeated the more experienced Soufiene Oudin by the same verdict at Ultimate Contest in December.

Keita fought his next three fights for the Dutch promotion World Fighting League (WFL). He knocked out his opponents three times in the first rounds, including Tayron Chavarro, Raymond Jarman and Bartosz Gorczyca. Keita won the WFL welterweight championship by defeating Gorcyzca.

Oktagon MMA In 2021, Keita signed with Oktagon MMA in the lightweight division. In his debut for this promotion, Keita faced Karol Ryšavý on December 4, 2021, at Oktagon 29. He won the bout by knockout after less than three minutes of the first round.

Keita faced former Oktagon MMA lightweight title contender, Ronald Paradeiser on February 26, 2022, at Oktagon 31. He won the bout by unanimous decision.

Keita, being on a two-fight winning streak for Oktagon MMA, got a chance to fight for the title against the double champion in two weight categories (lightweight and featherweight), Ivan Buchnger. At Oktagon 33 on June 4, 2022, he faced Buchinger for the lightweight title, winning it with a technical knockout after strong blows under the net.

Keita fought his next fight on his birthday in 2022 under Muay Thai rules, at Oktagon 38, in which he faced kickboxer Milan Paleš. There was no championship title at stake in the fight. This fight was so even after three rounds that instead of a potential draw, it went to a fourth, overtime round, after which Keita won by unanimous decision.

Keita faced Samuel Bark on February 11, 2023, at Oktagon 39. He won the bout by TKO in the third round.

Keita was scheduled to face featherweight champion Mate Sanikidze on April 29, 2023, at Oktagon 42. However, Sanikidze withdrew due to a shoulder injury and was replaced by Jakub Tichota. Keita won the bout by TKO in the fourth round to win the interim featherweight title.

The match between Keita and Sanikidze was rebooked on July 29, 2023, at Oktagon 45. Keita lost the bout by TKO in the first round due to an unexpected foot injury.

In his next fight, Keita faced Niko Samsonidse for the Oktagon featherweight title on December 9, 2023, at Oktagon 50, he won the bout by TKO in the second round to win the title.

Keita faced Agy Sardari on May 4, 2024, at Oktagon 57, in the second edition of the Tipsport Gamechange, dubbed the Oktagon Lightweight Tournament. Keita won the bout by unanimous decision on points.

Keita faced Predrag Bogdanović on July 20, 2024, at Oktagon 59: Summer Party, during the quarterfinal of the lightweight tournament. He won the bout by knockout in the second round.

Heading to the semi-finals, Keita faced Mateusz Legierski on September 21, 2024, at Oktagon 61. He won the bout by unanimous decision, advancing to the tournament final.

Keita faced Ronald Paradeiser in the lightweight tournament final on December 29, 2024, at Oktagon 65, in which the lightweight championship was also on the line. He won the bout by TKO to win the lightweight title and tournament.

Ultimate Fighting Championship On August 15, 2025, it was reported that Keita had signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Keita was scheduled to make his promotional debut against Patrício Pitbull on September 6, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 258. However at the weigh-ins, Keita weighed in at 149 pounds, three pounds over the division's non-title fight limit, resulting in the cancellation of the bout.

Keita faced Nathaniel Wood on March 21, 2026, at UFC Fight Night 270. He lost the fight by split decision.

Keita faced Muhammad Naimov on September 5, 2026, at UFC Fight Night 287. He won the fight by knockout in the first round. This fight earned him his first $100,000 Performance of the Night award.

Replacing Arnold Allen who withdrew due to an injury, Keita is scheduled to face Aaron Pico on October 24, 2026 at UFC 333.

Championships and accomplishments Mixed martial arts Oktagon MMA Oktagon MMA Lightweight Champion (Two times) Oktagon MMA Featherweight Champion (One time) 2024 Oktagon Lightweight Tournament champion First simultaneous two-weight Champion in Oktagon MMA history World Fighting League WFL Welterweight Championship (One time) Cageside Press 2022 African Prospect of the Year

Ultimate Fighting Championship Performance of the Night (One time) vs.

Mixed martial arts record

Muay Thai record

|- style="background:#cfc;" | 2022-12-30 || Win ||align=left| Milan Paleš || Oktagon 38 || Prague, Czech Republic || Decision (unanimous) || 4 || 5:00 |- | colspan=9 | Legend:

References

External links

Losene Keita

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