Ribovics Wants Top Contender After TKO of King Green

Esteban Ribovics says his post-fight trash talk after knocking out King Green at UFC 332 wasn't aimed at Green at all, and the lightweight contender is now using the win to push for a step up in competition.

Ribovics finished Green in the first round on the UFC 332 main card in Salt Lake City, bouncing back from a submission loss to Mateusz Gamrot earlier this year. The stoppage pushed his record to 17-3 and continued a run that includes a win over Edson Barboza, giving Ribovics back-to-back statement performances against a pair of respected lightweight veterans sandwiched around his lone setback to Gamrot.

What Did Ribovics Say After Beating King Green?

Ribovics made clear at the UFC 332 post-fight press conference that his focus is on the top of the lightweight division, not on the man he just finished. "I don't like to call out names," Ribovics said. "All I want is an opportunity again to get into the top. I got the opportunity. I failed, but that fight made a click in my life, and it made me more professional. I'm ready for any name at the top. I'm ready to prove I belong there."

He also addressed Green's trash talk heading into the fight, saying he'd prepared for it in camp. "I know he talked a lot of sh*t, but it's his game. I know he was going to do that. I prepared for that. My partner do the same in training. I come ready for that."

Ribovics broke down the finish itself, crediting his corner for spotting a tell in Green's uppercut setup. "We studied him a lot. I was listening to my corner, who were telling me that when he ducks his head to throw the uppercuts. They wanted me to pick up the pace, but something inside of me told me to stay calm. I got confidence when I felt he didn't hit that hard. He does hit precisely, though. He has like a scope on his hand, but doesn't hit hard. That gave me confidence to move forward and look for the KO."

Where Does This Leave Ribovics in the Lightweight Picture?

Ribovics enters this stretch of his career with real momentum, and the way he's winning matters as much as the record. A first-round finish over a durable, crafty veteran like Green, following a win over Barboza, is the kind of resume building block matchmakers use to justify a ranked opponent next. The Gamrot loss showed he still has gaps against elite wrestling and grappling, but Ribovics himself framed that defeat as the turning point that sharpened his approach rather than a setback that should slow his push toward the rankings.

Betting Angle

Ribovics is squarely in the range where bettors should expect his price to shorten if the UFC slots him against a ranked lightweight next. Finishing two credible veterans in his last two appearances, with the one loss coming to a legitimate top-15 grappler in Gamrot, is the profile sportsbooks typically respect. Expect oddsmakers to treat him as a live underdog rather than a modest-odds afterthought once a ranked name is announced, given his finishing rate and the confidence he showed reading Green's uppercuts live in the fight.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Esteban Ribovics say after beating King Green at UFC 332?

Esteban Ribovics said at the UFC 332 post-fight press conference that he wants an opportunity against a top lightweight contender and believes the finish over King Green proves he belongs there.

What is Esteban Ribovics' record after UFC 332?

Esteban Ribovics improved to 17-3 after finishing King Green via TKO in the first round at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City.

Who did Esteban Ribovics lose to before facing King Green?

Esteban Ribovics' only recent loss came via submission to Mateusz Gamrot earlier in 2026, before he bounced back with wins over Edson Barboza and King Green.