Once seen as an MMA outlier, Belgium is now making serious noise on the global stage. Long gone are the days when Tarec Saffiedine was the lone name representing Belgian MMA at the elite level. Today, names like Losene Keita, Bolaji Oki, Patrick Habirora, and Cedric Lushima are pushing the nation into the global spotlight—and the big leagues are taking notice.
Let’s start with “The Black Panther” Losene Keita, the Oktagon MMA double champ. Keita became the face of Oktagon after dismantling Ronald Paradeiser in a stunning performance that earned him both the lightweight belt and the Gamechanger title. His combination of speed, knockout power, and takedown defense has UFC fans clamoring for a signing. With his charisma and finishing rate, Keita is built for the big stage—UFC execs should be paying attention.
Then there’s Bolaji “The Zulu Warrior” Oki, who’s already flying the Belgian flag inside the UFC Octagon. Sporting a 2-1 record, Oki turned heads by outclassing Michael Aswell at UFC Vegas 107. With explosive striking and an aggressive style, Oki is building momentum fast. Victories over names like Danny Roberts could elevate him even further in a stacked lightweight division.
Patrick “The Belgian Bomber” Habirora is the breakout name for PFL. Undefeated at 6-0 with five knockouts, Habirora is set to headline the PFL’s Brussels event—an occasion that underscores Belgium’s rising stock in MMA. His clash with UFC vet Danny Roberts will be a proving ground. And let’s not forget his teammate Alain Mbarga Atangana, another top prospect waiting in the wings.
Over in KSW, Cedric “Drik-O-Velli” Lushima is about to make his debut against top-ranked Damian Piwowarczyk. Lushima is another undefeated phenom with a 6-0 record, blending slick submissions and knockout power. KSW doesn’t give easy fights—and this debut proves they see Lushima as the real deal.
Of course, it all started with Tarec Saffiedine, who once battled legends like Tyron Woodley, Rory MacDonald, and Rafael dos Anjos. Today, a new generation is writing Belgium’s next chapter—louder, faster, and stronger.
Whether it’s Oktagon, PFL, KSW, or the UFC, Belgian fighters are no longer on the fringe. They’re here to stay—and soon, they might just take over.
