Former Bellator star Lance Gibson Jr. stepped in at UFC Vegas 112 on short notice, kicking off the night’s main card against King Green.
Canada’s Gibson Jr, whose father Lance Gibson had competed at UFC 24 and UFC 29 back in 2000, had gone 5-1 under the Bellator banner, and was 9-1 coming into the fight against the much more experienced Green, a lightweight veteran and fan favorite.
Green opened the fight in his usual relaxed posture, hands low and confident. Gibson didn’t rush with his boxing early, instead targeting the legs with kicks. He tried to go upstairs once, but Green barely raised his guard in time to deflect it. Green showed little respect for Gibson, taunting him with his stance and constant chatter. To Gibson’s credit, he threw plenty of kicks, but few had real impact. Whenever Gibson committed with his hands, Green was slipping cleanly and firing back. As the round progressed, Green layered in feints and used the teep to keep Gibson guessing.
Round two began much the same, with Green settling back into his comfort zone. He repeatedly pointed to the canvas, baiting Gibson into overcommitting. Both men threw head kicks in an exchange that missed, and Gibson used the moment to crash the distance and dump Green to the mat. It was the position Gibson wanted, but Green popped right back to his feet, likely deflating any momentum or confidence gained. Green resumed walking Gibson down, stabbing the body with kicks and maintaining pressure. By this point, the mental warfare seemed to be taking its toll, as Gibson grew increasingly hesitant to commit.
Entering the third, Gibson needed a statement to earn Green’s respect. Instead, the fight remained largely uneventful, with neither man landing much of significance. Green, however, clearly controlled the cage. Gibson managed an explosive takedown, but once again Green immediately returned to his feet. Green later landed a sharp left hand off a body-head combination, and in the final minute he raised the tempo. He opened up with his hands and even surprised Gibson with a takedown of his own. That late sequence proved decisive, as Green secured top control and landed damage to close the fight, highlighting the clearest difference between the two down the stretch.
King Green def. Lance Gibson Jr. via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
