Patricio Freire is no longer fighting at UFC Paris.
That’s because opponent Losene Keita, this weekend’s “must-watch prospect,” missed weight by three pounds during the official weigh ins earlier this morning at the promotion’s host hotel. In response, “Pitbull” canceled his fight against “Black Panther” and petitioned matchmakers for a new bout at UFC Rio.
“He said in an interview he was faster, stronger, younger,” Freire said in a video posted to X. “I gave him all the advantages besides allowing
this fight to happen here in Paris. He drove two hours to get here so there was no suffering. His weight was low, he got here at 163 just like I did. He had all the advantages and still didn’t make weight, so I wouldn’t give him that advantage. At this stage I don’t fight for money anymore, I fight for legacy, and I won’t give him this guy that advantage. Unfortunately, the fight won’t happen.”
Freire, 38, has already competed twice for UFC since joining the promotion earlier this year and stands at 1-1 inside the Octagon. As for Keita, 27, this was supposed to mark his UFC debut after a torrid run through the ranks of Oktagon MMA in Europe.
“I’m absolutely sure he didn’t try going to the bath tub [to cut more],” Freire added. “There’s plenty of ways [to try]. He was surrounded by kids. There was no one older to put him in place, ‘Stay there, go make weight.’ At 9 a.m. he weighed in, he was over, and instead of trying until 11 a.m., which is the limit, he was eating baby food. F*ck you, man. If you want to blame anyone, blame my opponent. Black Panther, he’s ‘Fat Panther.’”
For the updated UFC Paris fight card and ESPN+ lineup click here.
