UFC 329 was always designed to be a must-see card.
Jul 29, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Bobby Green reacts to defeating Tony Ferguson during UFC 291 at Delta Center.
Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters ConnectKing Green Sends UFC Fans Into Frenzy May 9, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, UNITED STATES; King Green fights Jeremy Stephens during UFC 328 at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect But before those casual viewers could even settle in for the headliner, 39-year-old veteran King Green kept the finishing momentum rolling to begin the main card and authored one of the most spectacular buzzer-beater comebacks in UFC history.
In the unforgiving theater of MMA, particularly in the UFC, a single second can feel like an eternity. For Green, that final tick of the clock in the opening round against 31-year-old finisher Terrance McKinney wasn't just an eternity; it was the exact window he needed to pull off a miracle on the sport's most visible stage. McKinney, notorious for his well-rounded, explosive style, appeared to have the narrative completely written.
He had successfully taken Green’s back late in the frame. With his hooks secured and the clock rapidly bleeding out, the expected outcome was clear: ride out the round, bank a dominant 10-9 on the scorecards, and force Green to regroup on the stool. But Green operated entirely on veteran instinct. With mere seconds remaining before the horn, he made a sudden, violent gamble that sent the Las Vegas crowd into a frenzy.
Exploding from the heavily-compromised position of being on the wrong end of back mount, Green miraculously shed the back control and scrambled to his feet. Rather than circle away to safely survive the round, he planted his feet and bit down on his mouthpiece. With the ten-second clapper echoing through the arena, Green unleashed an improvisational sequence of pure violence.
May 9, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, UNITED STATES; King Green reacts during the fight against Jeremy Stephens during UFC 328 at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect A blistering left hand instantly found its home on McKinney’s chin. Before McKinney could regain his defensive posture, Green followed it up with two consecutive, lightning-fast front kicks straight up the middle.
He then dug a brutal, fight-ending body shot deep into McKinney’s ribs, folding him in half. The referee lunged in just as the horn blared, waving the fight off at exactly the 4:59 mark of Round 1. On a night perfect for casual fans tuning in to witness a superstar's return, King Green delivered a masterclass in grit, ensuring his walk-off knockout will be forever etched into the lore of an already historic event.
Zain Bando is a combat sports columnist and reporter for Gameday Media’s MMA Knockout. A Northwestern Medill School of Journalism and Illinois alumnus, Bando specializes in tactical analysis, breaking news, and exclusive executive interviews across the UFC and PFL. His versatile background also includes extensive Big Ten football and men’s basketball coverage, with bylines featured in The Sporting News, FanSided, and Men's Journal. Contact him at zainbando99@gmail.com.
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