Featherweights Losene Keita and Muhammad Naimov kicked off Saturday’s UFC Paris main card at the Accor Arena in Paris, France.
Keita, a former Oktagon MMA double champ, had been expected to face Patricio Pitbull in his promotional debut. After blowing weight for the fight last September, he’d end up debuting this past March, losing via split decision to Nathaniel Wood.
That left Keita looking to bounce back against Naimov, who was coming off a loss of his own, to Mairon Santos.
Round 1: Keita came out and instantly stung Naimov with a big 2-3 combination, pushing him to the cage and forcing a clinch. Keita sniped a right hand to the body and then quickly countered Naimov over the top. After catching a kick, Keita ripped into Naimov’s body with a big two-punch combination. The pace Keita looked to set was already making Naimov uncomfortable, with his right eye busted up already.
Keita stayed patient while pressuring, sniping at Naimov on the outside before a massive jab sent Naimov crumbling down. Keita jumped on top and landed some big punches, but allowed Naimov back to his feet. Feeling the finish coming, Keita sat back and waited for Naimov to jab before looping a massive right hand over the top, putting Naimov out cold. Keita immediately hopped right over the fence and sat in a chair cageside, giving a round of applause to the “winner” in one of the coolest celebrations in recent memory.
He’d later take aim at Lerone Murphy in his post-fight interview, exclaiming “this isn’t a callout. This is a warning shot!”
#UFCParis #UFCHBOMax pic.twitter.com/xrMtkgTpc0
— Pelunaton (@pelunaton) September 5, 2026
Official Result: Losene Keita def. Muhammad Naimov by KO (right hand), Round 1, 2:54
