​King Green feels his opponent seized the chance to fight him because he perceived an edge in the matchup. Initially, Green wasn’t keen on squaring off with Terrance McKinney, but the two lightweights from the Ultimate Fighting Championship—Green and McKinney—are scheduled to clash at UFC 329 on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Green recently revealed that he spent time with McKinney a week before the fight was finalized and was surprised when McKinney agreed to take the bout.
Green has described McKinney as a “homie,” which heightened his surprise about the matchup. Following Nate Diaz’s guidance, Green, who is 39 years old, didn’t want to fight someone he considers a friend. Even after Green explained his concerns to McKinney, the rising 155-pound contender’s decision to sign the contract seemingly left Green feeling unsettled, and he believes McKinney might view the bout as favorable.
“Terrance McKinney was supposed to be my homie. I was hanging out with Terrance a week before we took the fight,” Green said on an episode of UFC 329’s Embedded video series. “And Terrance, I’m telling him, ‘We’re homies…’ Nate Diaz broke it down to me — you ain’t supposed to fight the homies. I’m like, ‘Bro, I thought we was homies. What’s up? Why are you trying to fight me?’ He ended up texting me like, ‘Hey, they still want me to take the fight.’”
Green now suspects McKinney views the matchup as a favorable one, a perception that is fueling his motivation ahead of UFC 329. “I was like, ‘Let’s do it, bro.’ Maybe you think this is an easy fight. Maybe you think I’m some sucker or some bitch; we’re going to fight. Let’s go fight then. Let’s get it cracking,” Green added.
Green, who holds a record of 35-17, is riding a three-fight winning streak with two finishes on his resume. McKinney, at 18-8, has finished all eight of his UFC victories in the first round and has never gone to a decision in his professional career. This upcoming clash at UFC 329 is positioned as a high-stakes, high-intensity collision between a veteran looking to extend his momentum and a rising lightweight who has finished every UFC win in rapid fashion. The broader narrative around the bout centers on whether Green’s sense of camaraderie will influence the competitive dynamic or if the fresh urgency of the moment will override any personal ties. As fans anticipate the event, both fighters bring contrasting histories and styles to the octagon, contributing to what could be a pivotal moment in the 155-pound division’s ongoing narrative.