In the darkest period of his life, Losene Keita sat in a prison cell, wondering what life had in store, without a clue about the two Oktagon titles that awaited just a little along the road.
On Saturday night, at the historic Oktagon 50 blockbuster show in Ostrava, Czech Republic, the Belgian picked up the featherweight title after producing a scintillating right hand that rendered Niko Samsonidse unconscious, in one of the most brutal displays the promotion has ever seen.
Keita’s stunning KO encapsulated violence, speed and timing in abundance, cementing his place as undeniably one of the best featherweights on the planet.
With a spring in his step, he paraded around the cage, showing off his new belt, in the knowledge that just a few years ago, his life was on a completely different track.
At the age of 12, the natural athlete left his native Guinea, searching for a better life in Belgium, but it didn’t take long for the dangerous calling of the streets to grab his attention.
Losene Keita served time in prison
As it turned out, even before ever setting foot in the gym, Keita knew how to fight, regularly dismantling his foes on the mean cobbles in the city of Kortrijk. Alas, while his warrior spirit garnered massive credit on the streets, it didn’t go down well with the law.
Shortly after discovering MMA, due to a huge pile of police reports, the young fighter was sentenced to a stint in prison. Unsurprisingly, the loneliness of sitting in a cell and missing his family began to take its toll. But rather than succumbing to the tough reality of the situation, he instead used it as fuel to his fire, knowing that he had the potential to turn his life around and be the man his beloved sister always knew he could be.
Therefore, upon his release, he dedicated his life to MMA, rapidly excelling past his peers under the watchful eye of Steven Wauters. Before long, he was exciting crowds in Oktagon MMA, beating the legendary Ivan Buchinger to claim lightweight gold. However, winning one title wasn’t enough — he needed more.
In a bid to become a two-weight champion, he collided with Mate Sanikidze at a magnificent outdoor show at the Central Tennis Court Štvanice. However, in a moment of mayhem, several months of rivalry culminated in a freak injury, with Keita breaking his leg.
But as he has in the past, the sportsman showcased his fighting heart, bouncing back to beat Samsonidse for the featherweight strap Sanikidze vacated.
Losene Keita is inspiring young fighters around the globe
In a journey that symbolises the importance of hard work and dedication, Keita has proven that no matter how bad the path you take is, there’s always a way back from the brink.
His road to redemption serves as a beacon of light to fighters around the globe, showing the reality of what’s possible. With his ceiling still way out of sight, the MMA community stand in unison in excitement for what’s next. Completely aware of his impact, Keita is overjoyed that his rollercoaster ride can motivate others to follow his example.
At the post-fight press conference, he told Sporf: “What a journey. I am happy because four years ago, if you’d asked me this, I didn’t know anything; I was just fighting to fight. And now, I feel like a real professional. I cut weight and things like that. If you see my workouts, I’m not even from Ostrava, and a lot of people love me, so it’s inspiring. I hope a lot of people and children look up to me. I’m only 25-years-old. This is just the beginning.
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“I have a great team behind me. I hope everyone can surround themselves with guys like that. I’m a guy from prison, and people travel across three countries to see me, so it’s crazy. When I was in prison, I didn’t know who I was. When I watch the streams, everyone is talking about me, even in America. I am very blessed. I can’t wait to inspire a lot of people.”
Featured Image Credit: Oktagon MMA