ABU DHABI – Before he was an opponent, Losene Keita was a fan of Aaron Pico.
Keita (17-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) entered the MMA universe a little later than many fighters. Given his geographic location, he always was attracted to Bellator and the prospect he could land on a European Series card. At the time, Pico was the up-and-coming poster boy, and Keita liked what he saw.
"I'm one of the generation that started late with MMA," Keita told MMA Junkie on Tuesday. "When I started MMA, he was one of the guys I was watching. Because I was watching different promotions, I didn't know much about the UFC, Bellator. I actually wanted to fight in Bellator. For me, it was the greatest organization. I didn't know much about the organization because I just started MMA.
Pico was one of the guys they were always promoting. He had his highlights, his crazy highlights. I'm like, 'Whoa, that guy is crazy.' Now I'm facing him."
Keita rides a wave of momentum into Saturday's UFC 333 main card (Paramount+) showdown with Pico (14-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC). He took the fight on short notice, replacing the injured Arnold Allen just days after a humongous knockout of Mohammad Naimov in September. He initially called out Lerone Murphy, but this was the next best thing.
"Directly, (I said), let's go," Keita said, "because it was a fight I wanted after my fight in Paris. In the press conference, it was one of the fights I really wanted – against the winner. I understand if I don't get (Lerone) Murphy. I'm not going to get Murphy directly, (but) at least give me one fight in the top 15: the winner of Pico against Allen."
There's a lot of public discourse about Pico's chin, as there is some criticism of Keita's takedown defense. Keita admits he's heard both – but he's not putting too much weight into either. It's unfair, Keita said, to view one aspect of a fighter's game as a defining feature.
"If there is something I'm really good at, it's standup – not only in the cage, but in life," Keita said. "Every time some time somebody get me down, I'll always stand up in life and in cage. It's one of my strongest points. People, don't forget: It's going to be my 30th professional fight right now. Nobody has taken me down and submitted me and beat me in an MMA fight and did it by standing. Zero times. Maybe I've gotten taken down sometimes, but I don't think too much. I always stand up. I always deliver."
When analyzing the big picture, Keita thinks the answer is clear as to who will walk away victorious at Etihad Arena.
"I really believe 100 percent that I'm better than him in every aspect, even his wrestling, even his grappling, striking, kickboxing, boxing," Keita said. "I'm better than him everywhere. People forget. They always say, 'Pico has great wrestling.' He is an Olympic wrestler. This is the cage. It's different wrestling. So I'd really believe I'm a better mixed martial artist than him. Maybe he's a better boxer, maybe he's a better wrestler, but I really think when it comes to 'mixed,' I'm the better man. I'm sure about it."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: From fan to foe: Losene Keita sees great weight in Aaron Pico victory at UFC 333
