Overview
- Aaron Pico finished Losene Keita by TKO at 1:14 in the first round after an early takedown and a right hand that dropped Keita back to the canvas.
- The win came on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi and marks Pico’s second straight UFC victory following an April decision over Patricio Freire.
- Keita took the fight on short notice as a replacement for an injured Arnold Allen and protested the stoppage, saying he felt the referee acted too quickly.
- Pico used the post-fight microphone to call for a rematch with Lerone Murphy and to criticize ranked featherweights he labeled “ranking squatters,” arguing they avoid fights.
- The quick finish alters perception of Pico’s threat profile by showing a decisive striking finish on top of his wrestling and is likely to accelerate calls for him to face higher-ranked opponents.