Tag: Bobby Green

Bobby Green Reveals What In-Fight Comment Enraged Him At UFC 271

One sly in-fight comment from Nasrat Haqparast caused the rage in Bobby Green’s eyes that helped lead to his impressive win at UFC 271. Green and Haqparast battled in a three-round war at UFC 271. It was a standup showcase from start to finish as Green displayed impressive boxing and movement throughout the fight. Green…

Continue Reading Bobby Green Reveals What In-Fight Comment Enraged Him At UFC 271 at MMA News.

One sly in-fight comment from Nasrat Haqparast caused the rage in Bobby Green’s eyes that helped lead to his impressive win at UFC 271.

Green and Haqparast battled in a three-round war at UFC 271. It was a standup showcase from start to finish as Green displayed impressive boxing and movement throughout the fight.

Green and Haqparast got off to a slow start in the fight, but that changed over rounds 2 and 3. Haqparast got into Green’s face in between rounds, and that fired up Green going forward.

During his UFC 271 post-fight press conference, Green talked about what Haqparast said to him that made him visibly furious midway through the fight.

“Man, I don’t wanna do a lot of talking but he was getting under my skin,” Green said. “He was like coming with this energy and then he said he saw fear in my eyes, and that pissed me off. And I’m like, ‘Oh yeah? what’s up?’. That brings the hood out of me. I wasn’t going to say s**t but then he said s**t that hit me deep in the heart. There’s no f**king fear in me, homie, and my coach was trying to calm me down. I was hot and I just took it personally.”

Green made the Toyota Center in Houston erupt during and after the fight. He has no personal connections to the area, but the crowd was clearly in his favor before and after putting on a stellar performance against Haqparast.

Green came into UFC 271 off of a first-round knockout against Al Iaquinta at UFC 268. Before that, he lost back-to-back fights against Thiago Moisés and Rafael Fiziev.

In terms of what he wants next in his UFC career, Green doesn’t have a specific name in mind. But it seems likely that he’s in line for a big opportunity following an impressive win at UFC 271 after previously hinting at retirement.

Who do you want to see Bobby Green fight next?

Continue Reading Bobby Green Reveals What In-Fight Comment Enraged Him At UFC 271 at MMA News.

Iaquinta Admits Regret Over Accepting Green As UFC 268 Opponent

Former UFC lightweight title challenger Al Iaquinta has admitted he holds some regret over his decision to face Bobby Green for his return fight at UFC 268. After two years away from action, Al Iaquinta made a comeback to the Octagon last November. Prior to his hiatus, the New York native fell to consecutive unanimous…

Continue Reading Iaquinta Admits Regret Over Accepting Green As UFC 268 Opponent at MMA News.

Former UFC lightweight title challenger Al Iaquinta has admitted he holds some regret over his decision to face Bobby Green for his return fight at UFC 268.

After two years away from action, Al Iaquinta made a comeback to the Octagon last November. Prior to his hiatus, the New York native fell to consecutive unanimous decision losses against Donald Cerrone and Dan Hooker.

Inside the prestigious Madison Square Garden, “Raging” Al hoped to return to the win column in front of a hometown crowd. In his way of doing so was Green, a fellow veteran whose level of activity represented the opposite of Iaquinta’s across 2020 and 2021.

Having narrowly fallen to defeat against rising star Rafael Fiziev in his previous outing, “King” was also hoping for a rebound performance. With his first finish since a 2013 body kick against James Krause, Green did exactly that.

Inside the opening round, the 35-year-old dropped Iaquinta, before swarming him for the early stoppage and spoiling the homecoming.

Iaquinta: “I Should Have Picked A Different Opponent”

While Green hopes to ride the momentum from that result into his first appearance of 2022 this weekend, a main-card clash with Nasrat Haqparast at UFC 271, Iaquinta may be hanging up his gloves

Shortly after the devastating loss, Iaquinta suggested that his appearance at UFC 268 was likely his last fight, which would call an end to a memorable 22-fight career. Iaquinta has since walked back these suggestions, taking a “we’ll see” approach to what may lie ahead.

Three months beyond his failed comeback, the former lightweight contender, who recorded wins against the likes of Jorge Masvidal, Diego Sanchez, and Kevin Lee during his UFC tenure, has looked back on his decision to return against an opponent as tough as Green.

During an appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Iaquinta admitted that he regrets choosing “King” as his 14th foe on MMA’s biggest stage.

“Bobby Green is a tough guy. I should have picked a different opponent than that after a two-year layoff, coming off of two losses. I’m like, I wanted the best opponent, I was like, ‘I want Bobby Green, that guy is looking good right now,’” said Iaquinta. “Looking back, I should have known. I did know he was good, but maybe we’ll take it back a notch on the competition and ease it into it a little bit. I don’t know if there are tune-up fights in the lightweight division, but I don’t know about Bobby Green.”

If this is the end for Iaquinta, while he may have regrets about his most recent opponent, Iaquinta can certainly be proud of everything he has accomplished in the UFC up to this point. Despite never having gold wrapped around his waist, “Raging” Al went five rounds with the great Khabib Nurmagomedov for the vacant belt and faced the best of the best in the promotion across his decade on its roster.

Do you think Al Iaquinta should have returned to the Octagon against a lesser opponent in 2021?

Continue Reading Iaquinta Admits Regret Over Accepting Green As UFC 268 Opponent at MMA News.

Bobby Green Reveals That The UFC Paid For His Brothers Funeral

Bobby GreenBobby Green has explained why he will always be loyal to the UFC. The premier MMA promotion has endured something of a PR nightmare as of late as fans, fighters and celebrities such as Jake Paul have continuously called them out for underpaying and mistreating the athletes on their roster. Ahead of his fight at […]

Bobby Green

Bobby Green has explained why he will always be loyal to the UFC.

The premier MMA promotion has endured something of a PR nightmare as of late as fans, fighters and celebrities such as Jake Paul have continuously called them out for underpaying and mistreating the athletes on their roster.

Ahead of his fight at UFC 271, Green decided to shine some light on all the good things the UFC has done for him personally, he said.

“A lot of people think that I’m some dude who’s got money and just cocky, nah, I was you. I was poor. I was homeless. I grew up with death, I done dealt with struggle and that’s what I’m really here for is to show people that I can be that same person like you. I can be depressed, I can be just like who has been through some struggles and can get up and change their whole life. You can change your stars, one day you can just put your head down and have a goal, hit your goal, and people will recognize and you might motivate somebody else. I really thank the UFC for doing that [for me].”

Green went on to reveal how the UFC helped him during one of the toughest moments of his life.

“The one thing that I didn’t get to share, my brother that died, I didn’t have enough money to pay for his funeral, the UFC paid for that,” Green added. “That’s why I’m so loyal to them. They were doing things for me that no company ever did, they put up the money for my brother’s funeral, and they took care of that. I’ll always be loyal to them and thankful to them. Thank you Dana [White], thank you Sean [Shelby] for all the things you guys have done. I tell them all the time ‘You guys have no idea what you’ve done for me, you’ve changed my life.’” (Transcribed by MyMMANews)

Does Bobby Green’s story change your view of the UFC?

Green vs. Haqparast Set For UFC 271, Brown vs. Barberena Rebooked For Columbus

Two fights including UFC veterans have been added to the upcoming schedule of events with live crowds.

Brown Rebooked Against Barberena Re-Booked For Hometown Event

Image Credit: USA Today Sports

Matt Brown’s previously attempted fight agains…

Matt Brown

Two fights including UFC veterans have been added to the upcoming schedule of events with live crowds.

Brown Rebooked Against Barberena Re-Booked For Hometown Event

Matt Brown
Image Credit: USA Today Sports

Matt Brown’s previously attempted fight against Bryan Barberena is back on the schedule, and it is set to happen in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio, USA. The matchup is set to happen on March 26th, per Damon Martin of MMA Fighting.

Brown was previously booked to face Barberena on a December “Fight Night” card. That fight didn’t come to fruition, as a positive COVID-19 test forced Brown out of the lineup. They were still able to find Barberena an opponent for that event, as he beat UFC debutant Darian Weeks on scorecards.

Brown is riding the momentum of a finish win he earned against Dhiego Lima in June. The loss put him back to his winning ways for the first time since 2019. He entered the bout on a two-fight losing streak, including an early 2021 bout against fellow veteran Carlos Condit.

Green vs. Haqparast Scheduled For UFC 271

Bobby Green
Bobby Green (Photo: Getty Images)

The always-active Bobby Green will return for his first fight of the new year at UFC 271, facing Nasrat Haqparast in a lightweight bout. The matchup was first reported on Thursday by Walter Salcido.

Green finished his year on a high note in November, putting away Al Iaquinta in the first round with punches. This performance snapped a two-fight skid for the veteran, which included a tough three-round battle against the rising Rafael Fiziev.

Haqparast will be aiming to return to the win column in this fight. He lost his last fight on scorecards, going three rounds against Dan Hooker at UFC 266. Haqparast was on a strong two-fight winning streak before then, handing UFC newcomers Alex Munoz and Rafa Garcia both their first loss.

Do you have a prediction for Green vs. Haqparast and/or Brown vs. Barberena?

Continue Reading Green vs. Haqparast Set For UFC 271, Brown vs. Barberena Rebooked For Columbus at MMA News.

Al Iaquinta Suggests Loss To Green At UFC 268 Was His Last Fight

Lightweight veteran Al Iaquinta has admitted he “gave up” against Bobby Green at UFC 268, and suggested he’s likely to retire from the sport.

Iaquinta, who’s fought in the UFC ever since a defeat to Michael Chiesa in The Ultimate Fighter 15 Lightwe…

UFC 268: Iaquinta vs. Green, Al Iaquinta

Lightweight veteran Al Iaquinta has admitted he “gave up” against Bobby Green at UFC 268, and suggested he’s likely to retire from the sport.

Iaquinta, who’s fought in the UFC ever since a defeat to Michael Chiesa in The Ultimate Fighter 15 Lightweight Tournament final in 2012, has gone 1-4 across his last five fights. The torrid run began with his sole title fight in the promotion.

After building a five-fight winning streak, which included victories over Joe Lauzon, Jorge Masvidal, and Diego Sanchez, “Raging” Al found himself opposite Khabib Nurmagomedov in an extremely short-notice matchup in 2018. Iaquinta was originally set to face Paul Felder at UFC 223, but stepped in to face “The Eagle” after an injury to Tony Ferguson and concerns over first-choice replacement Max Holloway’s weight cut.

In the five-round main event, in which Iaquinta was ineligible to win the vacant belt, Khabib emerged victorious on the judges’ scorecards. Despite falling to his first defeat in four years, the New York native made it further than the likes of Conor McGregor, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje did against the Dagestani.

After an immediate rebound win against Kevin Lee was followed by consecutive losses to Donald Cerrone and Dan Hooker, Iaquinta spent over two years away from the Octagon. He returned earlier this month in front of a home crowd inside Madison Square Garden. However, his comeback was spoiled by Green, who finished the 34-year-old in the opening round.

Iaquinta: “I’m Thinking That’s It”

Despite being closer to 30 than 40, Iaquinta believes fans have now seen him in action for the last time. During the latest episode of the Call Me Al Show, the former lightweight contender admitted the effort and training needed to compete at the highest level is simply not worth it for him anymore.

“Fighting again? I’m thinking that’s it, man, I’m thinking that’s it. That is the way to go out. Obviously, you want to go out on a win, but this shit is not worth it dude. You saw Michael Chandler and Justin Gaethje fight, those guys beat the hell out of each other. That wasn’t worth it.” (h/t BJPenn.com)

Iaquinta went on to admit that he essentially quit after being hit with a hard shot by Green on November 5. The 34-year-old’s apparent retirement comes after he “gave up” for the first time in his career. According to Iaquinta, his body is not up to competing anymore.

“To be honest with you, it was the first fight that I gave up in. He didn’t knock me unconscious, I kind of turned and covered up, I was conscious and knew what I was doing. I just wanted (out), that was it. I realize he hit me hard and it probably wasn’t going to be a good night for me. I was not confident in my preparation, my cardio, my wrestling. These guys are training hard, three times a day, two times a day, really hard. My body just can’t hold up to that anymore. This is the first time in my career ever that I gave up in a fight.”

Do you think Al Iaquinta has fought for the last time?

Continue Reading Al Iaquinta Suggests Loss To Green At UFC 268 Was His Last Fight at MMA News.

Bobby Green Drops & Stops Al Iaquinta – UFC 268 Highlights

Bobby GreenBobby Green put on a flawless performance to beat Al Iaquinta at UFC 268. ‘King’ closed the show in round one with a big right hand and some follow-up strikes on the ground that Iaquinta had no answer for. Check out the highlights…

Bobby Green

Bobby Green put on a flawless performance to beat Al Iaquinta at UFC 268.

‘King’ closed the show in round one with a big right hand and some follow-up strikes on the ground that Iaquinta had no answer for.

Check out the highlights…