UFC featherweight Patricio Pitbull is not interested in squaring off against Losene Keita at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Paris after the latter failed to make weight.
Pitbull, 38, said he was willing to overlook a number of perceived advantages that his 27-year-old opponent enjoyed heading into the bout. However, the fact that Keita failed to try to shed weight was the Brazilian’s tipping point.
“He said in an interview he was faster, stronger and younger,” said Pitbull, in a video posted to UFC Brazil. “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 165 (pounds) just like I did.
“I’m absolutely sure he didn’t try (to cut the weight). At 9 a.m., he weighed-in, he was over, and instead of trying until 11 a.m., which is the (time) limit, he was eating baby food. (Expletive) you, man. If you want to blame anyone, blame my opponent.”
Keita offered a public apology for missing weight on Friday.
“For the first time in 25 fights, I failed to make weight, and it had to happen on my UFC debut,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “I wanted to continue and would have given everything to make weight, but my body didn’t want to. I sincerely apologize to my fans. I will be back, like every time I fall in life.”
–Field Level Media