Desmond Green

Desmond Green (born October 11, 1989) is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the lightweight division for Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Background Green wrestled at Rush–Henrietta High School, where he won a state championship. He later wrestled at University at Buffalo, where he worked towards a major degree in social sciences. He was removed from the wrestling team after he tested positive for marijuana. Green was a Mid-American Conference Champion and three-time Division 1 NCAA Qualifier.

Green also worked part-time at Walmart as a cashier before signing a contract with Bellator MMA.

Green has three children: two daughters named Tsajelia, Dahlia and a son named Desmond Jr.

Green faced Angelo Sanchez on October 25, 2013, at Bellator 105. He won via TKO at 1:04 of round two after the doctor stated Sanchez was unable to continue.

Green faced Mike Richman on February 28, 2014, at Bellator 110 in the quarterfinal match of Bellator season ten featherweight tournament. He won the fight via unanimous decision. In the semifinals, he faced Will Martinez at Bellator 114 on March 28, 2014. Green again won the fight via unanimous decision. Green faced Daniel Weichel in the tournament final at Bellator 119. He lost the fight via submission in the second round.

Green was released from the promotion, along with several others, on August 26, 2014.

Titan Fighting Championship In early September 2014, it was announced that Green had signed a contract with Titan Fighting Championship. He made his debut on October 31, 2014, in the main event at Titan FC 31 against Miguel Torres. Green won the fight via knockout in the first round.

Green next faced UFC veteran Steven Siler on December 19, 2014, at Titan FC 32 for the vacant Titan FC Featherweight Championship.

For his first title defense Green faced UFC and Strikeforce veteran Kurt Holobaugh on March 20, 2015, at Titan FC 33. He was once again forced to cut his dreadlocks to make weight. After a back and forth fight, Green lost the fight via split decision.

Ultimate Fighting Championship In February 2017, it was announced that Green had signed with the UFC.

Green made his promotional debut against Josh Emmett on April 8, 2017, at UFC 210. He won the fight by split decision.

Green faced Rustam Khabilov on September 2, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 115. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. After the bout with Khabilov, Desmond signed a new contract with the UFC.

Green faced Michel Prazeres on February 3, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 125. At the weigh-ins Prazeres weighed in at 161 pounds, 5 pounds over the lightweight non-title fight upper limit of 156 pounds. As a result, the bout proceeded at a catchweight and Prazeres was fined 20 percent of his purse, which went to Green. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Green faced Gleison Tibau on June 1, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 131. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Green faced Mairbek Taisumov on September 15, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 136. At weigh-ins, Taisumov weighted five pounds over lightweight non-title fight limit of 161 and he was fined 40 percent of his purse, which went to Green. Green lost the close fight via unanimous decision.

Green faced Ross Pearson on March 30, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 2. He won the fight via technical knockout in round one.

Green faced newcomer Charles Jourdain on May 18, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Lee. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

In January 2020, it was reported that Green was released by the UFC.

Post-UFC career Green made his post-UFC debut against Piankhi Zimmerman on March 19, 2022, at Gamebred Fighting Championship: Freedom Fight Night. He won the bout via first round TKO.

Bare-knuckle boxing BYB Extreme Green made his bare knuckle boxing debut with BYB on September 11, 2021 against Jeff Chiffens.

On November 19, 2022 at BYB 13 in Tampa, he defeated three-time BKB champion Scott McHugh to capture the inaugural BYB Middleweight title and the Police Gazette Diamond Belt.

Championships and accomplishments

Amateur wrestling National Collegiate Athletic Association Mid-American Conference 149 lb: Champion (2009–10) Mid-American Conference 149 lb: Runner–up (2008) New York State College Wrestling New York State Intercollegiate Championships 149 lb: Runner–up (2008) University at Buffalo Athletics UB Open 149 lb: Champion (2009) UB Open 157 lb: 6th place (2008) Cornell University Athletics Body Bar Invitational 149 lb: 3rd place (2008) New York State Public High School Athletic Association New York State Championship 140 lb: Champion (2007) Empire State Games Empire State Championship 143 lb: Champion (2007)

Mixed martial arts Bellator MMA Bellator Season 10 Featherweight Tournament Runner-Up New England Fights NEF Lightweight Championship (One time) Titan Fighting Championships Titan FC Featherweight Championship (One time, first)

Bare-knuckle boxing

BYB Extreme Fighting Series BYB Middleweight Champion (One time, current) Police Gazette Diamond Belt (One time, current)

Personal life

Vehicle collision and legal problems

On August 18, 2018, Green was involved in a car accident in Florida when he lost control of his SUV and veered toward a tractor-trailer, resulting in a five-car crash which killed two people. Green suffered only minor injuries in the accident. Green was involved in a minor accident two weeks prior to this five-car crash accident where he was cited driving with a suspended license and no proof of insurance with a toxicology report that Green tested positive for Cannabinoid, Tetrahydrocannabinol and a blood-alcohol level of 0.14 . Subsequently, on June 26, 2019, it was reported that Green was arrested and jailed for 20 separate charges, including two second-degree felony counts of DUI manslaughter; four third-degree felony counts of DUI causing serious bodily injury; third-degree felony possession of cocaine; five misdemeanor counts of DUI property damage; and third-degree felony driving with a suspended license with jail on bonds totaling $194,000.

Bare-knuckle boxing record Win

Scott McHugh TKO BYB 13: Tampa Brawl For It All

Tampa, Florida, United States Win

Carlos Alexandra Da Costa Decision (unanimous) BYB 8: Tis the Season to Brawl

Miami, Florida, United States Win

Jeff Chiffens TKO BYB 7: Brawl by the River

Miami, Florida, United States

Mixed martial arts record Win

Piankhi Zimmerman Decision (unanimous) Cagezilla FC 66

Manassas, Virginia, United States Win

Piankhi Zimmerman TKO (punches) Gamebred Fighting Championship: Freedom Fight Night

Miami, Florida, United States Win

Charles Jourdain Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Lee

Rochester, New York, United States Win

Ross Pearson TKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Gaethje

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Loss

Mairbek Taisumov Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Oleinik

Moscow, Russia Win

Gleison Tibau Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Rivera vs. Moraes

Utica, New York, United States Loss

Michel Prazeres Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Anders

Belém, Brazil Loss

Rustam Khabilov Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Struve

Rotterdam, Netherlands Win

Josh Emmett Decision (split) UFC 210

Buffalo, New York, United States Win

Martin Brown Decision (split) Titan FC 42

Coral Gables, Florida, United States Win

James Freeman Decision (unanimous) Titan FC 40

Coral Gables, Florida, United States Win

Desmond Hill Decision (unanimous) FFC 24

Daytona Beach, Florida, United States Win

David Cubas TKO (doctor stoppage) World Fighting Championship Akhmat

Grozny, Russia Loss

Andre Harrison Decision (unanimous) Titan FC 35

Ridgefield, Washington, United States Win

Vince Eazelle KO (punch) Titan FC 34

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Loss

Kurt Holobaugh Decision (split) Titan FC 33

Mobile, Alabama, United States Win

Steven Siler Decision (unanimous) Titan FC 32

Lowell, Massachusetts, United States Win

Miguel Torres KO (knee and punches) Titan FC 31

Tampa, Florida, United States Loss

Daniel Weichel Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 119

Rama, Ontario, Canada Win

Will Martinez Decision (unanimous) Bellator 114

West Valley City, Utah, United States Win

Mike Richman Decision (unanimous) Bellator 110

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Angelo Sanchez TKO (doctor stoppage) Bellator 105

Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States Loss

Fabrício Guerreiro Decision (unanimous) Bellator 99

Temecula, California, United States Win

Henry Martinez TKO (punches) NEF: Fight Night 7

Lewiston, Maine, United States Win

John Ortolani Decision (unanimous) CFX 22 – Winter Blast

Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States Win

Gemiyale Adkins Decision (unanimous) PA Cage Fight 15

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, United States Loss

Rory McDonell Submission (gogoplata straight armbar) Score Fighting Series 7

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Win

Brandon Fleming Decision (unanimous) NEF: Fight Night 5

Lewiston, Maine, United States Win

Matt DiMarcantonio Decision (unanimous) Gladius Fights: Fyvie vs. Carlo-Clauss

Irving, New York, United States Win

Bruce Boyington Submission (arm-triangle choke) NEF: Fight Night 4

Lewiston, Maine, United States Win

Ryan Peterson Decision (split) CFFC 16: Williams vs. Jacoby

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Phillip LeGrand Decision (unanimous) JB Sports / Live Nation: Rock Out Knock Out

Asbury Park, New Jersey, United States Win

Rob Font Decision (unanimous) Premier FC 8

Holyoke, Massachusetts, United States Mixed martial arts amateur record Win

Nate Charles TKO (punches) NEF: Fight Night 1

Lewiston, Maine, United States Win

Allen Weeks Submission (rear-naked choke) Raging Wolf 12

Irving, New York, United States