There was controversy at the official weigh-ins ahead of UFC Fight Night 258 in Paris, France, on Friday morning when the highly anticipated featherweight clash between Patricio “Pitbull” Freire (37-8 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and newly signed OKTAGON two-division champion Losene Keita (16-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) was canceled after Keita failed to make weight.
“Black Panther” stepped on the scale at 149 pounds at 9 a.m.—three pounds over the 146-pound limit—and opted to stop cutting, despite having another two hours to attempt to make weight.
As a result, the bout was scrapped after Freire refused to compete at a catchweight.
"He said in an interview that he was faster, stronger, younger," Freire told the UFC. "I gave him all these advantages, in addition to allowing this fight to be here in Paris. It only took him two hours to get there by car, so he didn't have any trouble. His weight was low. He arrived weighing 74 kg (163 pounds), just like I did, and he didn't make weight. Our division, its limit is 145 pounds, and the commissions still let us hit a pound above, which is 146. So, besides going over the 146 limit, he didn't hit 147, 148 – he's at 149 pounds.
"So, since I gave him all the advantages, besides the time zone, he doesn't have jet lag, problems with sleep adaptation, which we call acclimatization, right? We have to arrive a little earlier to get used to the weather here. All the advantages, he had. Even so, he didn't make weight, so I wasn't going to give him that advantage. He was more than a kilo heavier than me.
"When it comes to (my career), I no longer fight for money – I fight for legacy," Freire said. "I'm not going to give this guy that advantage. Unfortunately, the fight will not happen. I came ready. I did my job. I'm a professional. I never stopped making weight. He has a video. I'll release it in full later. He apologized and said he didn't have much time (to cut weight).
"I'm absolutely sure he didn't try (to keep cutting weight). … It was 9 o'clock in the morning, He arrived at the commission, weighed himself, and instead of trying until 11 o'clock, which is the (time) limit, the guy went to eat banana puree, bro – baby food. Go f*ck yourself, man. So if you want to blame someone, blame my opponent."
Freire also addressed the situation in a post on his X account, stating that he would love to compete at the UFC Fight Night event that is set to take place in Rio De Janeiro on October 11 against “anyone who makes weight.”
"Black Panther" Responds
Keita offered his side of the story in an open letter to his fans on his Instagram account, saying:
“Dear Fans,
I need to start to say sorry to everyone, to Pitbull and his team, to the UFC, Hunter, and to my fans! I’m so sorry to let you down.
In 25 fights i never missed weight, i have always be profesional with weight, with the promotions and to my oponents, i’ve made 5 tittles fights, two of them at Featherweight, where there is no allowance and i never missed weight, unfortunatly this happen when couldn’t never happen, on my UFC Debut!! I’m truly sorry, this was for sure the first time and last it happen on my career.
I am devasted with this and i just hope UFC give me another chance, because i live for this, this was my dream!!
Thank you for your support!”
