Just a few days before his fifth fight in less than a year, UFC lightweight Bobby Green isn’t in the mood for frivolities. Despite the vibes in Austin and all the great Texas barbecue, the man known as “King” just wants to focus on his job.
Even if he’s kind of tired of it.
“I’m kind of like burned out on fighting right now. Because it’s been like five fights in 12 months, so just a little burned out,” Green said. “Exhausted with the fighting, but I am holding strong and do what I do best.”
Soon after, Green’s patience was put to the test Wednesday. Just five minutes into his phone interview with the Southern California News Group, Green had words and an altercation with members of fellow lightweight Armen Tsarukyan’s team that resulted in security intervening. Needless to say, the interview was over.
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As for Saturday’s fight, that one is on and it promises to be an entertaining 155-pound tussle as Fontana’s Green takes on San Bernardino native Jalin Turner in the UFC on ESPN 52 co-main event at the Moody Center.
One would think their paths have certainly crossed in Inland Empire MMA circles, but Saturday will be the first time. Not that they didn’t try as Green, 37, was once prepared to take Turner under his wing.
“We had the same manager and we’re supposed to train one time. He had car issues and he didn’t show up and then we never seen each other since,” Green said.
“Kind of like show him to make sure that he had all the proper tools to be in this game. And then he didn’t make it to that practice after that.”
Turner, 28, concedes a bum tire resulted in the missed opportunity and says he never heard back from Green. So that was that – until a week ago.
With Green’s original opponent Dan Hooker sidelined after breaking his arm again, Turner answered the call to fight Green on short notice. He described it as a hard sell from the UFC brass.
“First time offered, no. Second time. Third time, it was kind of like, ‘Well, you can’t keep denying opportunities like this fight.’ So whatever, let’s get it,” Turner said.
In a way, Turner (13-7) feels like it’s poetic justice after Hooker originally broke his arm in their fight in July.
“I guess at the end of the day, it was my fault that Hooker couldn’t perform because I’m the one that did the damage,” said Turner, who now lives in Orange County and is represented by Tiki Ghosn’s Arsenal Sports Agency. “So yeah, I had to come in and clean up after that.”
The fight against Hooker was Turner’s second consecutive split-decision loss, the first coming against Mateusz Gamrot in March to snap a five-fight winning streak in which Turner had finished all five opponents.
Turner believes he won the Gamrot fight and admits he probably came up short in the Hooker fight. Despite the losses, he doesn’t feel the need for an overhaul.
“Something I gotta do is just do something more spectacular toward the end of the rounds than at the beginning of each round,” Turner said. “Everything will still be in my favor, so nothing too crazy, no big drastic change. And honestly, I want to go get the finish regardless of what happens anyway. I want to maintain my finish streak.”
Green (31-14-1) is on the other side of it, coming off two Performance of the Night victories. Known for his impressive stand-up, Green earned his first submission victory in 10 years with an arm-triangle choke on Tony Ferguson in July – “I think it just solidifies me as a complete mixed martial artist” – followed by a 33-second knockout of Grant Dawson just eight weeks ago.
“Always great when you can walk outta there. I call it a flawless victory,” said Green, who dropped Dawson with a straight left and finished him with seven unanswered punches on the ground.
Turner is respectful of Green and his striking – “I see his hands, pretty elusive, good movements, good counters” – and contends he’s got his own skills to match.
When asked if this were a fight for the King of the IE, Turner laughed and demurred.
“If it was for that, we would have a full camp, you know, I mean for everything,” he said. “But yeah, I’m gonna go get my hand raised regardless of circumstances, you know?”
UFC on ESPN 52
When: Saturday
Where: Moody Center, Austin
How to watch: prelims (1 p.m., ESPN+); main card (4 p.m., ESPN/ESPN+)
