Arguably no fighter on the UFC roster has made a better go of things during the coronavirus pandemic than Bobby Green. Returning Saturday to open the UFC Vegas 12 main card, Green had won three straight fights since June — against Clay Guida, Lando Vannata, and Alan Patrick. At the UFC Apex on Saturday, he looked to make Thiago Moises victim number four.
Moises entered the fight as the underdog. He started like he wanted to make a statement about that label. Moises immediately fired off a head kick. With a minute, he’d unleashed three. At least two had to be blocked, but were probably still felt. Moises then went low with his kicks, forcing Bobby Green to switch stances. That was followed by a Moises takedown attempt. While he shot for a dobule leg, he wound up scooping Green up and slamming him down. Green, however, managed to get on top, briefly hunting for a kimura, then a guillotine. Wisely, however, Green decided that grappling with the Brazilian was a bad idea. The rest of the frame played out on the feet, with Green getting all he could handle in Moises right before the buzzer.
Green had his hands down, walking Moises down early in the second. A right by Green, while on the backfoot, connected. Green shot for a single leg takedown, and Moises briefly considered a guillotine before the American completed the attempt. Moises, however, popped right back up. When they went back to ground moments later, with Moises getting them there after controlling the back, Green wound up stuck in a reverse heel hook attempted. He gutted it out, fought (read: kicked at) the hands, and managed to escape. That seemed to give Green a boost, as he went on the attack. Late in the frame, Moises would pick up the pace again, and while Green tried a couple of jumping attacks, they came up short.
A pretty close fight is the best way to describe Green vs. Moises heading into the third. Green, however, told his corner between rounds that he was having vision problems. He also wound up with a small cut by the ear. Moises was taking some big swings, probably uncertain about what his fate would be with the judges. Green would secure a brief takedown with about two minutes left in the fight. Moises, however, wound up taking Green down moments later. He made that one stick, transitioning to the back ever so briefly, controlling Green. Moises, however, couldn’t keep the fight there in the end. There’s be a final exchange on the feet, and for just the second time to that point on Saturday, the judges were required.
Fifteen full minutes ⏱
📝 How did you score this one? #UFCVegas12 pic.twitter.com/CbZhOaCVsz
— UFC (@ufc) October 31, 2020
The third round likely sealed the deal. In particular, that final takedown by Moises. A big win for the Brazilian. Green, meanwhile, has racked up 60 full minutes of cage time since June.
Official Result: Thiago Moises def. Bobby Green by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
