UFC Vegas 53: Gabe Green Wants Daniel Rodriguez Rematch

Las Vegas, NV – Winning streaks are valuable, but they have to start somewhere. For UFC welterweight Gabe Green that began when he defeated Yohan Lainesse at UFC Vegas 53 on Saturday night.

Green (11-3) was able to finish Lainesse via TKO in the second round of their prelim bout.

“I wouldn’t recommend losing, it’s a terrible feeling, it’s up to you win every time. It’s a lot better when you’re up here after a nice W,” Green told reporters in his post-fight media scrum.

Even though he finished the fight Green faced adversity in the octagon with the hard-hitting Lainesse as his opponent.

“I knew he was going to hit hard, and you know, he hit me hard. I figured he was going to gas (out) and then he gassed. I thought it was going to take a little longer to gas than anything. I was surprised that he gassed a little sooner than I thought,” Green said.

Green did get dropped with a punch during the fight which prompted the eventual bout winner to wrestle his opponent while he recovered.

“He hit me like right behind the ear he hit me in the sweet spot. Dropped, opened my eyes I was like ‘oh sh*t there’s his leg’ and I grabbed it and I was like alright let’s work from here,” said Green.

Now with the win under his belt Green had one name in mind for his next opponent.

“I would love to run it back with D-Rod (Daniel Rodriguez) anytime of the week. So if D-Rod wants it. I fought him on four days notice two years off the couch no training. I’m in the gym every day now I think it’s a totally different fight. I’ll take that all the time. Whenever. Tomorrow. Let’s get it,” Green said.

Green dropped a unanimous decision against Rodriguez in his UFC debut in May 2020.

“More than anything I just kind of want to GSP-it and avenge my losses. 100% he’s a great fighter I just don’t think he’s better than me. He was better than me that night, but I don’t think he’s better than me, and I want to prove to the world. A lot of sh*t about how many times he hit me in that fight, and he did he out-struck me like a mother,” said Green.

“I had a little worse eyes back then and I was also pretty damn rust. I think I take him out now. I don’t think it goes past three rounds.”

Watch the full UFC Vegas 53 post-fight media appearance from Gabe Green above. More coverage from the event can be found below.