There are those over the past week who have claimed that lightweight Bobby Green didn’t deserve to headline UFC Vegas 80 (not to mention his opponent on Saturday, Grant Dawson).
Beg to differ.
Coming off a win over Tony Ferguson and having hit a new level of fan recognition ever since his short-notice fight with Islam Makhachev in February of 2022, Green was exactly where he was supposed to be. You could do worse than Green as an Apex-card headliner, and if there was cause for criticism, it was that the UFC stubbornly refused to exit the Apex for good despite the world having opened back up following COVID.
As for Dawson, Saturday was his first chance to headline a UFC card, and in a sense, it was a trial run and a chance to bag a win over a fan favorite.
He might want a do-over.
Green came out in his traditional stance, hands low, off the opening bell, backing Dawson up to the fence. Dawson responded with a big swing, and a miss, as both men looked to feel each other out. Moments later, Green made Grant Dawson’s first-ever UFC main event a memorable one for all the wrong reasons.
Green unleashed a straight left hand, and Dawson immediately hit the dirt. He was covering up almost instantly, but even the ref appeared stunned by what had happened, leaving Green to land a few more follow-up strikes before the fight was finally called. An absolutely shocking, quick finish and a stunning defeat for Dawson, who was previously unbeaten in the UFC.
Official Result: Bobby Green def. Grat Dawson by knockout (straight left), Round 1, 0:33
