King Green Faces Emotional UFC 332 Bout as Best Friend Fights for Her Life
A battle-hardened American veteran against a promising Argentinian talent chasing his second straight win has taken a back seat to a bigger story at UFC 332.
As the UFC bandwagon rolls back into Salt Lake City on Oct. 3, King Green has something far more important weighing on his mind. The 40-year-old revealed that his best friend, Amy, is fighting for her life, leaving the veteran torn between the demands of training camp and his duty to be there for his close kin.
Arnold Barboza Jr. Consoles King Green
Green's emotions boiled over during training, and the moment was caught on Arnold Barboza Jr.'s stream as the veteran was drilling for his upcoming bout. During one of the former champion boxer’s streams, Green broke down in tears amid training.
Seeing the veteran down in dumps, Barboza pulled him in for a hug, consoling him while advising him to keep his head on training. Green (36-17-1) is still preparing for his UFC 332 bout, but his mind is understandably elsewhere.
He shared the heartbreaking news on Instagram, writing directly to Amy - “Amy, I love you so much, thank you for giving me a family. Keep fighting, I don’t know what I will do without you
In a separate video, The Californian revealed that his best friend for the past 20 years is currently fighting for her life, after being diagnosed with leukemia seven months before, turning what was supposed to be another night at the office into something far more personal.
Looking Back on King Green vs. Arnold Barboza Jr. in Boxing Ring
For the unversed, Barboza isn't simply another name from Green's training circle. The two have shared the boxing ring before, with the UFC fighter learning the hard lesson when he challenged professional boxers to test his skills.
After Green picked apart professional boxer Bang Williams in sparring, he issued an open challenge to other professional boxers. The former WBO interim super lightweight champion at the time answered promptly.
Green who expected a firefight was genuinely impressed by the 34-year-old’s tight guard, footwork and his flurry of quick combinations. The experience was undoubtedly humbling for Green, admitting that Barboza showed him what “real boxing” looked like.
Now, Barboza found himself in a very different position with Green, albeit without any trash talk, being a friend comforting another emotionally hurt fighter.
Green Still Has a Fight Waiting in Salt Lake City
His opponent, Ribovics aka "El Gringo" (16-3-0), enters the matchup looking to build on his momentum, while Green is chasing another victory at 40 and continuing a career that has already taken him through some of the UFC's toughest lightweight battles.
After a brief two-fight skid, first against Paddy Pimblett and then against Mauricio Ruffy, Green bounced back, going on a four-fight win streak. His latest victory came at UFC 329, where he TKOed Terrance McKinney in round one.
That said, there is no telling what kind of emotional state he will be in when fight night arrives. Training through something this painful is difficult enough; stepping into the Octagon and putting everything on the line is a different tale altogether.
