Now, after more than 15 years and 46 fights, he’s set to headline for the second time in his UFC career, fresh off an outstanding performance against Tony Ferguson and, this time, it’s not a hand-me-down main event either.
“I’m honored, brother; I’m honored to finally get the respect that they’re giving me as the main event,” said Green, who called his main event assignment opposite Makhachev “bittersweet” because of the short-notice nature of the pairing when we spoke prior to that fight.
Recapping The Best Of The Lightweight Division in 2023
He’d always wanted to be on a poster, and now he was, but only as a last-minute replacement. This time, however, he’s been one half of the main event and featured on the poster from the jump, and it’s obvious what this opportunity and the overall moment he’s enjoying means to him.
“It means that I’m doing something right, that the company can trust me to headline and put on a good show.
“Man, it’s great — it’s f****** great,” he added when asked about continuing to thrive this far into his career. “This is what I do. It’s what I do for my family, and family is the most important thing to me. To take care of my family, I’ll do anything.”