Latest news with #OKTAGON
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
OKTAGON star Losene Keita lands Patricio Freire fight in Paris after signing with UFC
Losene Keita asked, received, and now he has a big test in front of him. The OKTAGON standout told MMA Junkie in July he thought it was time to join the UFC, and the promotion agrees. Keita (16-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will battle Bellator legend Patricio Freire (37-8 MMA, 1-1 UFC) in a three-round featherweight bout Sept. 6 at UFC Fight Night 258. The event takes place at Accor Arena. A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie following a report from Maitres Fumieres on Instagram. Keita, 27, held both the OKTAGON featherweight and lightweight titles during his 11-fight tenure with the promotion. He has 10 knockouts in 16 professional wins, and his lone loss was due to injury. "It's time," Keita said. "Let's make featherweight great again. I can do both weights actually. I even fought in welterweight before. I fought in lightweight, featherweight. Let's just make fun. Let me knock out people on the biggest platform." Freire, 38, picked up his first UFC win in July when he defeated Dan Ige by unanimous decision. The win came after an unsuccessful promotional debut vs. Yair Rodriguez. The victory was a long-time coming for the 45-fight pro, who spent the majority of his career fighting under the Bellator banner, rewriting the promotion's history book. With the addition, the UFC Fight Night 258 lineup includes:
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC signs OKTAGON champion Losene Keita
The UFC has added a big name, talent, and personality to its featherweight division. "Make featherweight great again," is what Losene Keita says he wants to do. He'll have the chance to do that soon, as he announced Friday he's signed with the UFC. Keita (16-1) is widely regarded as one of the best featherweights outside the UFC. He held OKTAGON titles at both featherweight and lightweight. He's known for his fighting abilities and highlight-reel knockouts but also his mic skills and electric walkouts. Keita's only career loss was due to injury, and he's notched 10 knockout victories in 16 fights. "I already slapped everybody in Europe," Keita told MMA Junkie in July. "Every time I'm sitting in front of the TV, I'm watching a featherweight, (and) it's not what it used to be before. It used to be a fun weight class. We need a big star. We need someone who can sleep people. We need some fun fighters. Imagine being in front of the TV, watching these kind of fights. I'm like, 'How are they in the UFC? How?' For me, my job is now to make featherweight great again in the UFC. I think it's time to go to the UFC. I'm the guy the UFC really needs." It has yet to be announced when Keita will make his promotional debut, but he told MMA Junkie he hoped for Sept. 6 at the UFC Fight Night event in Paris. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC makes massive signing: Top European star Losene Keita onboards
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC signs OKTAGON champion Losene Keita
The UFC has added a big name, talent, and personality to its featherweight division. "Make featherweight great again," is what Losene Keita says he wants to do. He'll have the chance to do that soon, as he announced Friday he's signed with the UFC. Keita (16-1) is widely regarded as one of the best featherweights outside the UFC. He held OKTAGON titles at both featherweight and lightweight. He's known for his fighting abilities and highlight-reel knockouts but also his mic skills and electric walkouts. Keita's only career loss was due to injury, and he's notched 10 knockout victories in 16 fights. "I already slapped everybody in Europe," Keita told MMA Junkie in July. "Every time I'm sitting in front of the TV, I'm watching a featherweight, (and) it's not what it used to be before. It used to be a fun weight class. We need a big star. We need someone who can sleep people. We need some fun fighters. Imagine being in front of the TV, watching these kind of fights. I'm like, 'How are they in the UFC? How?' For me, my job is now to make featherweight great again in the UFC. I think it's time to go to the UFC. I'm the guy the UFC really needs." It has yet to be announced when Keita will make his promotional debut, but he told MMA Junkie he hoped for Sept. 6 at the UFC Fight Night event in Paris. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC makes massive signing: Top European star Losene Keita onboards
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC signs OKTAGON champion Losene Keita
The UFC has added a big name, talent, and personality to its featherweight division. "Make featherweight great again," is what Losene Keita says he wants to do. He'll have the chance to do that soon, as he announced Friday he's signed with the UFC. Keita (16-1) is widely regarded as one of the best featherweights outside the UFC. He held OKTAGON titles at both featherweight and lightweight. He's known for his fighting abilities and highlight-reel knockouts but also his mic skills and electric walkouts. Keita's only career loss was due to injury, and he's notched 10 knockout victories in 16 fights. "I already slapped everybody in Europe," Keita told MMA Junkie in July. "Every time I'm sitting in front of the TV, I'm watching a featherweight, (and) it's not what it used to be before. It used to be a fun weight class. We need a big star. We need someone who can sleep people. We need some fun fighters. Imagine being in front of the TV, watching these kind of fights. I'm like, 'How are they in the UFC? How?' For me, my job is now to make featherweight great again in the UFC. I think it's time to go to the UFC. I'm the guy the UFC really needs." It has yet to be announced when Keita will make his promotional debut, but he told MMA Junkie he hoped for Sept. 6 at the UFC Fight Night event in Paris.
Yahoo
10-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC veteran Martin Buday signs with OKTAGON MMA, faces off with heavyweight champ
It didn't take long for Martin Buday to find a new home after his puzzling exit from the UFC. After winning seven of eight fights in the UFC heavyweight division, including a unanimous decision victory over Marcus Buchecha at UFC on ABC 9 just two weeks ago, the promotion opted to not sign Buday (16-2) to a new deal at the conclusion of his contract. This came to the surprise and disappointment of Buday, who said he did not ask for a raise or any other demands to stay with the UFC. It didn't happen, though, and he entered free agency, where he quickly was picked up by OKTAGON MMA. Buday competed for OKTAGON MMA in 2018-2019 and became heavyweight champion. He vacated the belt when he signed with the UFC, but will now seemingly have the chance to get it back from reigning titleholder Will Fleury (15-3), whom he faced off with after his signing was announced at Saturday's OKTAGON 74 event. The promotion did not reveal a timeline for the teased showdown between Buday, 33, and Fleury, 36, who is on a nine-fight unbeaten streak dating back to June 2020. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC castoff Martin Buday signs with OKTAGON, faces off with champ
