Arnold Allen out, Aaron Pico has new opponent for UFC 333

While UFC 331 is less than 24 hours away, UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi is the most anticipated card of the year right now. Unfortunately, that card just took a major blow. 

Scheduled to open the main card of 333, a featherweight clash between Arnold Allen and Aaron Pico. The fight was expected to be one of the most entertaining fights on the card. That’s no longer the case.

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Reported by MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck, No. 7-ranked featherweight Arnold Allen is out of his fight against No. 12 Pico at UFC 333 due to injury. This isn’t a new injury, but a situation where Allen doesn’t have the proper time to rehab from prior medical treatments.

Allen was entering this October fight coming off a unanimous decision win over Melquizael Costa and could’ve propelled himself back toward the top of 145 pounds with a win over Pico. 

Now the UFC has to pivot, and keeping Pico on the card is vital. Luckily, the UFC didn’t take long to find a replacement for Allen. 

Losene Keita steps in on short notice to face Aaron Pico

Losene Keita teased on social media earlier this week that he’s taken a fight against a top-15 featherweight. Now we know that the opponent is Pico. Keita will step back into the octagon just 48 days after his impressive first-round TKO win at UFC Paris. 

Pico is better known in MMA because of his Bellator success. Even so, he doesn’t have more UFC experience than Keita. Both fighters are 1-1 in the UFC and are entering their third fight in the promotion. 

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Pico entered the UFC as a consensus instant contender, but a KO loss to Lerone Murphy put that to bed. However, Pico looked elite in his second fight against Patricio Pitbull. He put on a clinic at range and teed off on Pitbull with his stellar boxing. 

Despite having far less experience, Keita could be an even more dangerous matchup for Pico than Allen. Keita is heavy on the forward pressure, a relentless striker with huge power and an exceptional jab. 

Pico has been known to get caught by power punches when in close range. If Keita makes this fight dirty and keeps Pico on the back foot, he could secure the biggest win of his career. 

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