Aaron Pico Defends Taking Losene Keita Fight at UFC 333

Aaron Pico says he doesn't care that Losene Keita is unranked heading into their UFC 333 featherweight clash this weekend, and he's brushing off any suggestion that the matchup is a step down.

Pico, ranked No. 12 in the UFC featherweight division, is coming off a significant win over Patricio Pitbull and could have pushed for a more decorated name. Instead he's taking on Keita, a rising prospect still building his UFC resume, and Pico says rankings were never part of his calculation.

Why Aaron Pico Is Fighting Unranked Losene Keita

Aaron Pico made clear he isn't picking opponents based on where they sit in the standings. "I just roll with the punches," Pico told MMA Fighting. "What am I ranked in the UFC? No. 12 or something like that? I'm not even sure. All I'm focused on is being a champion. That's what I'm focused on. So whoever I have to fight."

He contrasted his approach with fighters who carefully manage their records. "A lot of guys are like, 'I need to protect this, I need to fight a guy that's above me.' I have a different approach. If I'm not champion, then I just need to fight whoever. Even when you are champion, you're fighting the best guys in the world. It doesn't really matter to me. I'm focused on getting to the top. I'm taking this as a new challenge."

Pico also framed the fight as part of a bigger plan rather than a one-off. "One day when I am champion, and they're like, 'you're fighting a guy with a lot of power in his hands.' OK, no problem," Pico said. "We know what our playbook is. We know what we need to do and we just need the reps. I need to make the walk as much as I possibly can to get to the top."

What This Fight Means for Pico's Featherweight Push

Aaron Pico's willingness to fight outside the ranked pecking order says something about how the UFC and his own team view this stage of his career. He's been pegged as a future title threat since his Bellator days, but the UFC run has been about accumulating real finishes and building a style that holds up against elite opposition, not padding a ranking number. Keita represents a live threat with real power, exactly the kind of live-bullets test Pico says he wants reps against before he gets anywhere near a title shot.

For bettors, Pico stepping in with an unranked but dangerous prospect is a trickier line to read than a fight between two ranked names. Keita's game is largely unproven at this level, which tends to push oddsmakers toward favoring the more established, higher-volume name in Pico, but power like Keita's always keeps a finish live on either side. Fighters who talk openly about wanting reps and experience, the way Pico did here, tend to show up focused rather than looking past an opponent, which is worth factoring in against a live dog with pop in his hands.

UFC 333 goes down this weekend, with Pico looking to keep his featherweight momentum going against a Keita camp that will have everything to gain by pulling off the upset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Aaron Pico fighting unranked Losene Keita at UFC 333?

Aaron Pico said rankings don't factor into who he fights, telling MMA Fighting he's focused solely on reaching champion status and is treating the Losene Keita fight as a necessary step and new challenge rather than a mismatch to avoid.

What is Aaron Pico's UFC ranking entering UFC 333?

Aaron Pico is ranked No. 12 in the UFC featherweight division heading into his fight with Losene Keita at UFC 333.

What was Aaron Pico's last win before facing Losene Keita?

Aaron Pico's most recent win before the Losene Keita fight came against Patricio Pitbull.