Losene Keita replaces Arnold Allen against Aaron Pico at UFC 333

Losene Keita is reportedly set to step in for Arnold Allen and meet Aaron Pico at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi this Saturday, according to a report that has not been officially confirmed. Allen is said to have been forced out of the featherweight bout.

Pico said he was disappointed to lose a top-five opponent, but he believes fans are eager to see the matchup against the young knockout artist.

Pico, 30, is 14-5 and ranked 11th at featherweight. The American, who trains at Jackson-Wink MMA, is coming off a unanimous decision win over Patricio Pitbull at UFC 327 on April 11. That result followed a first-round KO/TKO loss to Lerone Murphy at UFC 319 in August 2025. His wrestling numbers stand out: he averages 8.96 takedowns per 15 minutes, with 3.88 significant strikes landed per minute at 44 percent accuracy.

Keita, 28, is a Belgian fighter from Lamiro Fight Club with a 17-2 record. The former Oktagon champion built his reputation in Europe and arrives on a fresh result: a first-round KO/TKO of Muhammad Naimov on September 5, which came after a split decision loss to Nathaniel Wood in March. He lands 3.91 significant strikes per minute at 46 percent accuracy and has recorded no takedown attempts in his career stats.

Allen, 32, is ranked seventh at the weight and carries a 21-4 record. The Englishman had won a unanimous decision over Melquizael Costa on May 16, following a unanimous decision loss to Jean Silva in January.

Why it matters

• The numbers point to a clear style contrast: Pico's 8.96 takedowns per 15 minutes against Keita's zero.
• Keita holds a 2.5-inch reach edge, 72 inches (183 cm) to Pico's 70 inches (178 cm), and is two years younger.
• Pico swaps a seventh-ranked opponent for an unranked one, while Keita, on a first-round finish, gets a ranked name on short turnaround.

The two are nearly level on the feet: Keita's 3.91 strikes per minute edges Pico's 3.88, and his accuracy is two points higher.