Aaron Pico needed just one minute and 14 seconds to stop Losene Keita by TKO at UFC 333, held on October 24, 2026, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The victory gives the American his second consecutive win in the UFC, while the Belgian suffers his second defeat in three appearances with the promotion.
Keita stepped in to replace Arnold Allen, who was reportedly forced out through injury. The late call-up put him in front of a demanding opponent in Pico, a fighter known for his explosive power and wrestling credentials. With limited time to prepare for a different matchup, Keita faced the additional challenge of adjusting to an opponent capable of turning a brief exchange into a decisive moment.
Pico established his intentions almost immediately. He opened with a single-leg takedown attempt and brought Keita to the canvas. The Belgian managed to work his way back to his feet by using the cage for support, then landed a clean strike that created enough separation for him to reset.
آرون بيكو يُسقط لوسين كيتا في 74 ثانية.. ضربة يمينية تكشف صعوبة التعويض المتأخر في UFC pic.twitter.com/zWX2Q6Cpvc
— mmamag (@mmamagma) October 25, 2026
That brief response did little to change the direction of the fight. Moments later, Pico landed a powerful straight right hand that sent Keita crashing to the canvas. He followed up with ground strikes, forcing the referee to step in at 1:14 of the opening round. The official result was a TKO victory for Pico, rather than a submission or a decision.
For Keita, the loss comes after a mixed start to his UFC career. He dropped a split decision to Nathaniel Wood in his promotional debut, then responded with an emphatic first-round knockout of Muhammadjon Naimov at UFC Paris in September. That performance showcased the speed and finishing ability that had helped establish his reputation. Against Pico, however, he never had enough time to build an offensive rhythm or make those qualities count.
Keita’s professional record now stands at 17 wins and three losses. Those numbers alone do not define his ceiling, but the defeat highlights the challenge of translating his strengths into consistent results against UFC-level opposition, where a single opening can determine the outcome before a fighter has the chance to settle into the contest.
For Pico, the result carries value beyond the speed of the finish. Coming off a win over Patricio Pitbull, he has now recorded back-to-back victories in the UFC and strengthened his position in the featherweight division. His professional record improves to 15 wins and five losses. Still, two consecutive victories do not automatically establish him as a leading title contender, particularly when a fight ends before the full range of a fighter’s skills can be tested.
🇲🇦❤️ آرون بيكو يوجّه تحية إلى المغرب!
تحية خاصة من نجم الـMMA إلى الجماهير المغربية 🥊🔥 pic.twitter.com/YOaOWuoQ8l
— mmamag (@mmamagma) October 25, 2026
Keita’s next appearance will offer a clearer indication of how he responds. His late-replacement status is relevant when assessing the circumstances surrounding the matchup, although it cannot, on its own, explain the result. What the fight clearly showed was Pico’s ability to seize the initiative early, capitalize on an opening and finish once his opponent was hurt.
Pico leaves Abu Dhabi with a decisive victory and renewed momentum. Keita faces the task of rebuilding after a setback that came before he could fully establish himself in the fight. Any change to either fighter’s official ranking, however, remains unconfirmed until the UFC publishes its next update.
