King Green ‘a little mad’ at Herb Dean for early stoppage at UFC 332: ‘Let me go out on my shield’

King Green voiced frustration with referee Herb Dean's stoppage in his first-round loss to Esteban Ribovics at UFC 332 on Saturday, feeling the official ended the fight prematurely despite his desire to continue.

Green was dropped multiple times in succession by Ribovics during the opening round. After the veteran lightweight hit the canvas again, Dean assessed the situation and decided to stop the bout, deeming Green in too much danger to continue despite him never losing consciousness.

Taking to Instagram post-fight, Green expressed his disappointment with the call. "I told Herb, this is going to get sticky. Let me go out on my shield," Green said, adding that he felt he was still capable and "getting somewhere" in the fight. While he acknowledged it was a great fight and accepted that "shit happens," the 37-year-old made clear his frustration with the early rescue.

The loss marks a significant setback for Green's momentum. He had entered UFC 332 riding a four-fight winning streak, with UFC CEO Dana White recently suggesting he would be a prime candidate for a future "BMF" championship opportunity. Saturday's defeat likely derails any immediate title ambitions, though the Utah crowd's roaring support for the veteran suggests his popularity remains intact. Despite the result, Green should bounce back relatively quickly on the promotion's radar if he can string together another winning streak.