LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag] is living in the moment after his sub-minute finish in the second main event of his UFC tenure, but that doesn’t mean a couple of names aren’t on his radar.
Green (31-14-1 MMA, 12-9-1 UFC) needed just 33 seconds to knock out Grant Dawson in the UFC Fight Night 229 main event at the UFC Apex. As a result, Green wasn’t sure how to process the moment other than just praising his team and all of those around him.
With the win over the promotion-ranked No. 10 Dawson (20-2-1 MMA, 8-1-1 UFC), Green will likely have a number next to his name next week, which he says will be cool for the fans who want to identify his place in the lightweight division. While he admits he has never been motivated by chasing the UFC title, “King” believes it’s within reach, if that’s how the promotion wants to push him.
“I’m in sniper range,” Green said during a post-fight news conference. “Don’t think I can’t go get that title. I can go get the title. I’m just a fun kid who’s like, ‘Hey, I’m just happy-go-lucky.’ I’m here, I’m there. … I just pop up wherever they put me.
“UFC guys are the story writers. Sean Shelby, Dana White. They’re writing the story. Whoever they put is how the story gets written. So, you talk to them and tell them, and we’ll figure it out. If they want to put me towards the title, that’s awesome. I’m in sniper range now. It’s getting real close.”
As for what would be the next step to get him closer to gold, should that be the plan, Green says his coaches have been mentioning Dan Hooker, but Renato Moicano has also been trying to pick a fight.
“They want me to fight Hooker,” Green said. “I’m like, ‘OK.’ If Hooker’s down, I’m down. I’m down to even headline the prelims. I know the cards got so stacked up. I just got to go check out my hand a little bit. I started slamming them little hammerfists. … If I’m good, I want to fight in December. I want to be the most active fighter this year.”
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As he has done before, Moicano chirped at Green immediately after his victory Saturday, but Green is growing tired of his antics since a fight has yet to come together.
“Tell that guy suck it,” Green said about Moicano. “He wanted to fight. It’s like he wants the big money, and he’s like, ‘Hey, I want to fight.’ But then when I saw him, like ‘What’s up?’ Then it’s like, ‘Oh, not that time.’ – It’s just a bunch of, you gotta figure that sh*t out. Go figure that out, bro.”
Moicano hasn’t fought since UFC 281 last November, where he submitted Brad Riddell in the first round. Hooker was last in action in July at UFC 290, where he defeated Jalin Turner by split decision. The bout was his first of 2023, and he typically fights two to three times per calendar year.
“Hangman” caught wind of Green’s comments, and seems down for the matchup. He also shared the same sentiment about Moicano.
“Let’s boogie,” Hooker wrote on X. “Moicano can suck it.”
Ultimately, Green will travel in whichever direction the UFC wants to direct him, as long as he can stay active and keep cashing Performance of the Night bonuses.
“To be honest, I just put whoever they put in front of me,” Green said. “If they put Renato, he’ll get his ass slept too.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 229.