Keita Misses Weight, UFC Paris Fight vs Pitbull Canceled

Losene Keita’s scheduled UFC debut at UFC Paris was called off after the 27-year-old missed weight at the official weigh-ins, tipping the scales at 149 pounds on Friday morning and prompting his opponent, former Bellator two-division champion Patricio Pitbull, to refuse to proceed. The bout was set for the main card in Paris and would have marked Keita’s first fight in the UFC after a rapid rise on the European circuit.

The featherweight non-title limit is 146 pounds. Keita’s 149-pound weigh-in left him three pounds over and the UFC cited weight management issues when it announced the cancellation. Pitbull, who successfully weighed in at 145 pounds, immediately criticized Keita on social media and in a video posted by UFC Brazil, saying, "I did my part, but my opponent didn't do his," and calling on matchmakers to rebook him for a fight in Rio next month. In the video, Pitbull also mocked Keita’s "Black Panther" nickname and accused him of not attempting further weight-cut measures during the official window.

Keita responded later on Instagram with an apology to fans, his opponent and the promotion, saying he had never missed weight in 25 previous fights and describing the...