TLDR
- King Green lost to Esteban Ribovics by first-round TKO at UFC 332 after being dropped three times
- Green told referee Herb Dean before the fight to let him ‘go out on his shield’ if necessary
- The 40-year-old fighter protested the stoppage and said he wanted to continue fighting
- The loss ended Green’s four-fight winning streak in the UFC lightweight division
- Ribovics earned his second consecutive knockout victory after previously finishing Edson Barboza
Sources: sherdog.com | sports.betmgm.com | mmasucka.com
King Green has publicly criticized referee Herb Dean’s decision to stop his fight against Esteban Ribovics at UFC 332 on Saturday night. The veteran lightweight fighter was dropped three times in the first round before Dean waved off the bout at the 4:08 mark.
Green immediately protested the stoppage while still conscious on the canvas. The 40-year-old later revealed he had specifically asked Dean before the fight to allow him to go out on his shield if things got tough.
šØTRENDING OLD VIDEO: KING GREEN ON ISLAM MAKHACHEV ā āHE GOT CAUGHT FOR DRUGSā š³
š£ļø āIslam got caught for drugs when he first came… Khabib and Islam, they go to a mosque, they train in a place you canāt go, you canāt come to us for months. They can do whatever they want toā¦ pic.twitter.com/wkzvUKZGS2
— FightLuck (@FightluckBet) October 4, 2026
Green’s Post-Fight Comments Spark Debate
While partying with former UFC fighter Quinton Jackson, who cornered him at the event, Green expressed his frustration with the stoppage. Jackson defended Dean’s decision, explaining the referee was trying to protect Green from unnecessary damage.
“I was telling Herb when Herb came inā¦ Fight will get sticky; you should let me fight,” Green said on Jackson’s Kick stream. “Let me fight! Let me go out on my shield.”
Green continued with more controversial statements about his approach to the sport. “I understand I’m older. These young n*ggas coming with f*cking heatā¦ I don’t plan on living long. Let me f*cking go! I want to live life right now and today,” he said.
The fighter also addressed his fans directly on social media after the bout. “I told myself regardless or not, I’m not gonna be mad at myself. But I’m a little mad,” Green explained in a video post.
He reiterated his pre-fight instructions to Dean. “Told Herb, this is gonna get sticky. Let me go on my shield. I’m still fine. I wanted still to keep fighting,” Green said.
Four-Fight Win Streak Comes to End
The loss ended what had been an impressive run for Green in the UFC’s lightweight division. He entered UFC 332 riding a four-fight winning streak that began with a decision victory over Lance Gibson Jr. last year.
In 2026 alone, Green had knocked out Daniel Zellhuber, submitted Jeremy Stephens, and knocked out Terrance McKinney. The three consecutive finishes earned praise from fans and analysts for his active schedule against dangerous opponents.
The defeat drops Green’s career record to 36-18-1. At 40 years old, he had been competing with impressive frequency in one of the UFC’s most competitive divisions.
For Ribovics, the victory marked his second straight knockout win. The Argentinian fighter previously finished Edson Barboza in August and improved his record to 17-3.
During the fight, Ribovics initially missed several strikes before finding his range. Once he connected, he dropped Green three times in quick succession, prompting Dean’s intervention.
Green reassured his supporters he would return soon. “I feel like I wanna fight next f**king week. You know what I mean? And so, thank you so much for the support. I love you guys. And I will be back very soon,” he said in his social media video.
The event took place at Delta Center in Salt Lake City. Green’s protest of the stoppage has generated discussion among fans about referee intervention and fighter safety.
