King Green capped a statement performance at UFC 328 with a first-round rear-naked choke of Jeremy Stephens, then turned his attention to bigger opportunities inside the Octagon.
Green’s submission win opened the main card at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., and marked his third straight victory. The result also handed Stephens the 20th loss of his UFC career.
Despite the quick finish, Green was critical of his own work. "I don't even feel like I got in a fight and I didn't like the way I finished it," Green said. "I wanted to knock him out and make sure that I'm solidifying myself as one of the greatest fighters to ever step on these mats."
Green, who now has nearly 30 UFC fights and just scored his first submission in nearly three years, emphasized his long-running commitment to excitement. "And that's what I was saying to Dana (White after the submission) is, I'm one of the greatest to ever do this. If you go through my catalog and really look at my catalog, I've been fighting this way, scrapping and making entertainment. That's what I'm about and that's what I do."
Looking ahead, Green made his motivation for a headlining slot clear. "A main event would be dope just so I can get the extra $100,000. I don't know if you know, but they give you an extra $100,000 if you're the main event. That's the only reason I want to do a main event."
