King Green disappointed with Herb Dean stoppage at UFC 332: ‘I don’t plan on living long’

King Green voiced frustration with referee Herb Dean's stoppage of his UFC 332 catchweight bout against Esteban Ribovics at Salt Lake City's Delta Center on Saturday. Ribovics dropped the veteran three times in the opening round, prompting Dean to halt the action. Though Green remained conscious and immediately protested, the referee deemed it necessary to prevent further punishment.

Green's disappointment stemmed from instructions he had given Dean before the fight: to allow him to continue competing even if the action turned dangerous. Speaking later on a stream with his corner, Quinton Jackson, the 40-year-old expressed his desire to "go out on his shield" rather than be saved by referee intervention. Jackson, who cornered Green, acknowledged Dean was acting in his fighter's best interest, but Green maintained his position that he wanted the freedom to fight to the finish.

The stoppage ended a four-fight winning streak for Green, whose record now stands at 36–18–1. For Ribovics (17–3), the victory marked his second consecutive knockout, following his August finish of Edson Barboza. The contrasting philosophies between fighter autonomy and referee safety—a recurring debate in combat sports—were on full display, with Green's bold comments about mortality and his willingness to accept risk reflecting the mindset of a veteran willing to leave everything in the cage.