Esteban Ribovics absolutely tore through King Green at UFC 332 on Saturday, securing a wild first-round stoppage win that had everyone in Salt Lake City talking. After all the back-and-forth chatter leading into this lightweight matchup, Ribovics came out looking better than ever, making a serious statement.
The Left Hand That Delivered Nightmares
Ribovics found a home early for a devastating left hand, and it was clear that punch was giving Green nightmares. He put the always-entertaining veteran down on the canvas not once, but several times throughout that opening round. Green tried to duck and dodge the initial heavy shots Ribovics was throwing. He even fired back with some quick kicks and straight punches, but keeping his hands down, which is his usual style, ultimately cost him. Ribovics was relentless, continually clipping and catching Green with that series of left hands.
A 4:08 Stoppage And What Comes Next
Green did manage to keep Ribovics at arm’s length for a bit, chipping away from the outside. But then Ribovics unloaded another huge shot, putting Green down two times in a row. The assault continued, with several knockdowns in a row until referee Herb Dean had no choice but to step in and stop the fight at 4:08 in the opening round, rescuing Green from any further potential harm. After the win, Ribovics got on the mic and shouted, “I’m sorry I missed weight. Next time I’m going to be more professional. I trained for that. I train everyday. To bring violence to the octagon. I have my wedding in one month … I’m ready for the next.” This dude is for real. He’s now stacked up stoppage wins over two legends, Green and Edson Barboza, in consecutive fights. This kind of momentum moving into 2027? Yeah, the lightweight division just got a whole lot more interesting.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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