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It would be hard to name a fighter who has had a more difficult path to the UFC than Bobby Green. A foster kid who traveled between some 50 homes until the age of 20 in California’s notoriously rough Inland Empire, Green has beared witness to the absolute worst that humanity can offer. Even worse is the fact tha despite all his efforts and his recent success in the UFC, he still can’t seem to escape his troubled past.
Last May, Green lost his younger brother, Mitchell Davis Jr. (23), in a gang-related shooting. In the aftermath, a hit was allegedly put out on Green himself. Then in September, Green’s older brother was shot in a non gang-related incident. Thankfully, he survived. That Green was able to not only fight 4 times over the span of these tragedies, but win all 4 contests, speaks a lot to his character, as well as how far he could really go in this sport.
But it’s hard to account for the mental toll the past year in particular has taken on Green, and unfortunately, it looks like we could possibly be seeing the end of “King” in the octagon come this weekend. In a Facebook post last night, Green lamented that he was “tired” and considering retirement following his Fight Night 57 co-main event scrap with Edson Barboza this weekend.
“Think this might be my last fight thinking about retirement,” Green wrote.
While his performance this weekend will undoubtedly play a big part in his decision, let’s all just remain hopeful by placing as much emphasis on “thinking” as possible. I mean, Mirko Cro Cop said he was “worn out” and considering retirement after his UFC 103 loss to Junior Dos Santos, and 5 years later, that old SOB is still swingin’ for the fences.
And not to turn this into a slight against the UFC, but I’m just sayin’, if Uncle Lorenzo can afford to turn welfare rat Conor McGregor into Irish Scarface in a little over a year, why can’t he afford to move Green and his family halfway across the country and maybe take out a few gangbangers in the process?