A debate that seems to transcend time when it comes to sports, especially mainstream sports, revolves around celebrations of wins, scoring, etc. Are things like slow home run trots and touchdown dances just a bit of fun while asserting talent? Or are they inappropriate and have no place?
Sometimes you hear a similar conversation in MMA, but it can be hard not to celebrate. To put hours of training in fight camp, endure weight cuts, and pull off a victory? It’s an accomplishment those who have never been in the fight game can’t truly understand; an outpouring of emotions is common.
And MMA has given us some memorable victory celebrations: Chuck Liddell’s primal scream, Tito Ortiz’s symbolic burial of his fallen foes, Israel Adesanya’s bow and arrow, Tai Tuivasa’s Shoey, even Jorge Masvidal’s crazy display after his insane knockout of Ben Askren.
But at UFC Paris, Losene Keita might have taken the cake for what could be the greatest post-fight celebration in UFC history – or perhaps even MMA history.
After scoring a one-hitter quitter to score a first-round knockout, Keita immediately jumped out of the cage. That on its own doesn’t seem unusual; plenty of fighters have climbed on top of, or jumped out of, the cage. Heck, that’s at the center of a current controversy involving UFC 329 and the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
But then, Keita took things a step further. He ran past the officials and media people at cageside, dashing over to a section of empty chairs near the fans. And Keita then sat down in one…and gave himself an applause for such a marvelous knockout performance.
Not only did he knock out his opponent, but he also knocked the socks off plenty who got to bear witness to one of the most hilarious post-fight antics ever seen.
Some will call it cold. Others will call it disrespectful. Some will call it hilarious. It fits all the categories if we’re being honest. And it makes it that much more memorable and legendary.
And for Keita, the celebration was the cherry on top of an Octagon performance that he needed in a big way.
Keita built up a solid name for himself by becoming a two-weight division champion in OKTAGON; in fact, he was a simultaneous two-weight champion. The UFC had approached Keita previously about a deal, but he wanted to wait until he felt the time was right.
The time for Keita’s UFC debut finally came in March earlier this year; however, the result was not what Keita expected. In what was far from Keita’s best MMA performance, he dropped a decision to Nathaniel Wood.
Muhammad Naimov was certainly a better matchup for Keita, but that only brought more risk. A loss would have meant significant questions about Keita, his skills, and his potential. And when we’re in a year in the UFC where the underdogs have been barking like mad, the possibility of an upset loss was present.
Fortunately for “The Black Panther,” he locked in. Keita dominated the fight with punches in bunches, busting Naimov open around one of his eyes. Keita dropped Naimov with a left jab, but Naimov survived a barrage of strikes and got back to his feet.
But it didn’t take much longer for Keita to complete his mission, landing a right hand that put Naimov out cold.
Keita landed a highlight finish, had a memorable celebration, and then added to the fun by calling out the undefeated Lerone Murphy. Losene Keita has forced his way into the UFC spotlight; let’s hope he can make the most of it.
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