It’s not usually a regional fighter declines a number of UFC affords, however that’s precisely what prime 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 below the brightest lights within the UFC. It’s a fantasy he nonetheless hopes to meet in the future, however Keita simply didn’t really feel the time was proper when the UFC got here calling.
“Oktagon is sort of a house for me,” Keita informed MMA Preventing. “Oktagon gave me quite a lot of possibilities and the followers love me and I’m highly regarded there. For me, the UFC was my first choice, however I’m like, why ought to I depart my house to go some other place?
“I’m 26 years outdated, I’ve a superb document, I’m nonetheless studying on a regular basis. I can nonetheless have quite a lot of expertise earlier than going to the UFC. I by no means say the UFC dream is finished, however for me, Oktagon is now my house and I’m blissful there.”
Keita admits it’s unattainable for cash to not play some half in the place he fights, nevertheless 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 value a number of affords, Keita felt like Oktagon actually understood his worth to the group.
Keita is at present the featherweight and light-weight champion of Oktagon.
“[UFC tried to sign me] thrice already,” Keita revealed. “It doesn’t occur, however I don’t assume quite a lot of fighters are in my sneakers. That’s why it doesn’t occur [very often]. I’m getting paid and I’m getting paid properly in Oktagon. I’m one of many largest 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 value. In Oktagon, they know my value, they respect my value. 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 affords from the promotion earlier than lastly signing there as a free agent in 2021.
Pimblett brazenly acknowledged that he wished extra time to develop his recreation and really feel really prepared for the competitors he’d face within the UFC. The choice appeared to work out properly for him; Pimblett is undefeated in 5 UFC appearances and has grow to be one of many promotion’s largest 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 affords, 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 wish to be a contender. I wish to be the champ,” Keita mentioned. “I wish 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 shouldn’t be the time. Additionally, financially, it’s not the time.
“I’m not boastful however I’m assured. I may be within the UFC proper now and be within the prime 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, all the things, however financially I really feel nice in Oktagon, it’s my house. 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 connected to the followers of Oktagon so I don’t wish 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 event, which fits down Saturday in Germany. Keita is, after all, part of that event.
“Probably the most fascinating one was truly PFL, as a result of PFL wished me within the $1 million featherweight event,” 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 house and one different place I’m not house.”
Keita is aware of there’s danger connected to staying in Oktagon quite than simply taking the supply 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 quite shortly with a knockout win this previous December, and now Keita is laser targeted on the light-weight event beginning for him on Saturday.
Keita expects the UFC will finally search him out once more, and if the time is correct, he’ll clearly hearken to the supply. However for now, he’s blissful listening to his identify being chanted by 20,000 rabid followers nearer to house.
“Think about a child from the road, strolling into an area with 20,000 folks screaming your identify. It’s loopy,” Keita mentioned. “So think about going to PFL now and I must stroll out and no one is aware of me. I do know I can change that round shortly, however I don’t wish to do this to the followers.
“Each time I see the followers chanting my identify, there’s only a feeling strolling into the world with 20,000 folks screaming your identify, it’s simply loopy.”
