Desmond Green

Desmond Green (born October 11, 1989) is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the lightweight division for Ultimate Fighting Championship. Green is a bare-knuckle boxer for BYB Extreme Fighting Series, where he is the current BYB Middleweight Champion and Police Gazette Diamond Belt champion.

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.

Early career
Green started his professional career in 2012. He fought mainly for northeastern American promotions. In the first year of his career, he amassed a record of 8 wins and 1 loss.

Early in 2013, shortly after winning the New England Fights lightweight title with his TKO victory over UFC veteran Henry Martinez, Green signed with Bellator MMA to fight in the featherweight tournament.

Bellator MMA
Green made his promotional debut against Fabrício Guerreiro on September 13, 2013, at Bellator 99 in the quarterfinal match of Bellator season nine featherweight tournament. He lost via unanimous decision.

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 suffered his first loss with the promotion after losing to Khabilov via unanimous decision. After the bout with Khabilov, Desmond signed a new contract with 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 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 to Green. Green lost a 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 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.

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.

Amateur wrestling

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

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.

During his pre-trial release, Green was charged with felony driving without license on January 22, 2020. Subsequently, his release was revoked and Green was jailed, pending his court hearing on March 6, 2020.