Bobby Green is not supposed to be here.
Saturday’s UFC Fight Night was built around top lightweight contenders Islam Makhachev and Beneil Dariush. Dariush had won seven in a row while Makhachev captured his past nine. Akin to a number-one contender’s match, the winner would be in position for a title shot, adding even more stakes to the encounter.
But Dariush hurt his ankle, suffering a fractured fibula, which has caused his removal from Saturday’s fight card. Suddenly there was an opening for a top-10 lightweight to test himself against Makhachev (21-1), who is ranked fourth in the division.