UFC 332 live blog: King Green vs. Esteban Ribovics

UFC 332 features a high-stakes main card catchweight bout between veteran King Green and dynamic fighter Esteban Ribovics. The battle takes place at Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Saturday.

Green, a seasoned 40-year-old competitor with a 36-17-1 record, enters the octagon for his 32nd fight in the UFC. He has secured 17 victories inside the cage, following a notable comeback streak of four straight wins, including finishes against Terrance McKinney, Jeremy Stephens, and Daniel Zellhuber. This win streak marks Green's longest since 2014, when he claimed eight consecutive victories across Strikeforce and UFC.

Ribovics, with an 16-3 record, has displayed mixed results in his eight UFC appearances. However, fans can expect excitement whenever he steps into the cage. Three of his recent victories came with Fight of the Night bonuses, following wins over Elves Brener, Nasrat Haqparast, and Zellhuber. Ribovics' most recent display of skill came in a second-round knockout victory over the legendary Edson Barboza at UFC 330, which occurred in August.

Interestingly, this bout was reclassified as a catchweight fight after Ribovics weighed in 0.5 pounds over the lightweight limit. As a result, he forfeited 20 percent of his purse as a penalty.

In the first round, the action begins with Ribovics immediately landing a leg kick. Green, known for his cautious approach, waits for Ribovics to close the distance. Ribovics obliges, delivering a left hook to Green's jaw and clinching to disrupt the pace. Ribovics follows up with a Superman punch, but Green remains just outside his reach.

The fighters engage in a brief exchange, with Ribovics landing a significant left hook that sends Green to the canvas. After regaining his footing, Green attempts a counter-strike but faces another left hook from Ribovics, resulting in another knockdown. The referee, Herb Dean, steps in to end the round, giving the advantage to Ribovics.

Despite the earlier tension between the fighters, they quickly reconcile and embrace in the ring. Ribovics apologizes for missing weight, expressing his commitment to "bring violence to the octagon." He emphasizes that his focus is not currently on the opponent as he is getting married next month.