Monster Energy's Aaron Pico Defeats Losene Keita at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi

30-Year-Old Pico from Whittier, California, Earns First-Round TKO and $25,000 Finish Bonus

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates , Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Another dominant victory! Monster Energy congratulates MMA athlete Aaron Pico on defeating Losene Keita at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday night. In the main-card featherweight bout, the 30-year-old from Whittier, California, earned a spectacular TKO victory just 74 seconds into the first round. The dominant stoppage also earned Pico the UFC's $25,000 Finish Bonus.

UFC 333: Volkanovski vs. Evloev was contested in front of a live crowd inside sold-out Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Featuring two world championship title fights and five main-card bouts, UFC 333 aired live on Paramount+.

Stepping into the Octagon in Abu Dhabi, Monster Energy's Pico (15-5) came in as the betting favorite after defeating Brazilian MMA veteran Patricio Pitbull at UFC 327 in April. Before joining the UFC in the summer of 2025, Pico ranked as a top featherweight contender in Bellator. Could Pico continue his rise in the UFC's 145-pound division?

Pico's opponent, Belgian MMA fighter Losene Keita (17-3), stepped into the Octagon after most recently earning a first-round knockout victory over Muhammad Naimov at the UFC Fight Night in Paris in early September. Keita accepted the fight on short notice to replace the injured Arnold Allen, who had been originally scheduled to face Pico at UFC 333.

The fight between Pico and Keita started at a fast pace as both opponents clashed in the center of the Octagon. Almost immediately, Pico landed a single-leg takedown and began pressuring his opponent from the top. After briefly securing Keita's back, Pico rocked him with a heavy left as the fight returned to standing.

Then it was all over quickly. After shooting a one-two combo, Pico broke through Keita's defenses with a heavy right hand to the chin. As Keita wobbled and fell to the canvas, Pico pursued the defenseless Belgian with ground-and-pound until referee Lukasz Bosacki stopped the fight at 1:14 of Round 1. Named the official winner by TKO, Pico earned a $25,000 Finish Bonus in his second consecutive victory in the UFC.

"Honestly, it feels amazing," said Monster Energy's Pico after stopping Keita at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi, adding: "I've been wrestling since I was four years old. And this guy was very confident going into the fight. But I told my coaches, after this fight, this guy will wish he put his wrestling shoes on at four years old. I just got to get back to my roots and be smart. And I know if I do that, I can be the world champion."

Asked about his wish for the next fight, Pico said: "I want to fight for the title, but if that can't happen, I want a rematch against Lerone Murphy." Stay tuned as Pico's climb to the top continues!

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Monster Energy's elite UFC athletes include Alex Pereira, Dricus Du Plessis, Merab Dvalishvili, Valentina Shevchenko, Weili Zhang, Marlon Vera, Justin Gaethje, Brandon Moreno, Johnny Walker, Sean Strickland, Dan Ige, Diego Lopes, Daniel Zellhuber, Derrick Lewis, Alexa Grasso, Raul Rosas Jr., Tatsuro Taira, Shara Magomedov, Maycee Barber, Aaron Pico, Jasmine Jasudavicius, Kayla Harrison, Malcolm Wellmaker, Mansur Abdul-Malik, Manuel Torres, Joshua Van, Reinier de Ridder, Alessandro Costa, Esteban Ribovics, Youssef Zalal, Jiri Prochazka, Manel Kape, Payton Talbott, Jalin Turner, Mackenzie Dern, Mikey Musumeci, Tommy McMillen, Bobby Green, and Carlos Prates.

For more on Monster Energy's MMA athletes, visit www.monsterenergy.com. Follow Monster Energy on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok. For interview or photo requests, contact Kim Dresser.

About Monster Energy
Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock-and-roll lifestyle, Monster Energy believes in authenticity and the core of what its athletes and musicians represent. More than a drink, it's a way of life lived by athletes, bands, believers, and fans. See more about Monster Energy, including all of its drinks, at www.monsterenergy.com.

CONTACT: Kim Dresser C: (949) 300-5546 E: [email protected]

SOURCE Monster Energy