Bobby Green Explains Why He and Justin Gaethje Choose Not to Wrestle

Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight contender Bobby Green sees certain similarities between himself and Justin Gaethje.

Green (30-14), who takes on Grant Dawson (20-1) in a main-event clash on Oct. 7, is coming off a Round 3 submission win over Tony Ferguson. Being a thorough crowd-favorite who engages in stand-up clashes, this was the first time Green submitted an opponent since 2013.

However, Green’s reluctance to wrestle has nothing to do with his skill set, as “King” was a CIF wrestling champion at A.B. Miller High School in Fontana, California. Similarly, fellow crowd favorite Gaethje also primarily chooses to avoid wrestling despite being a two-time state champion (AIA) at Safford High School and an NCAA Division I All-American during his time at the University of Northern Colorado.

Green believes he and “The Highlight” both avoid wrestling because they are on a quest to become “superstars.” Promising to continue playing to the crowd, the 37-year-old further elaborated during UFC Fight Night 229 pre-fight media availability:

“Yeah, no one thought I had grappling. No one understands my wrestling or my grappling. I just don’t really show them, you know. Me and Gaethje both understand that like, ‘Uh, it’s not really what the crowd wants to see.’ We understand that and we’re going to try give you what the crowd wants. We’re trying to be superstars. We’re trying to give 110% to what it is that fans came for. We’re here to sell out shows… Wrestling, like, if you could do it in an exciting way, cool, but being boring, that’s not me.”