Desmond Green Still Fighting to Clear His Name and Return to the UFC

‘I know I’ll get back. My life is dedicated to getting back.’

Desmond Green has a destination in mind for his journey. Whether he ever reaches it is difficult to answer.

Green, 33, has been a force to be reckoned with BYB Extreme Bare Knuckle Fighting Series. He has dominated all three of his bouts en route to becoming the reigning BYB middleweight champion. Later tonight, he will wear the once-familiar MMA gloves in a nontitle crossover bout against Lyntai Earnest at the BYB Extreme Trigon Combat, which airs on FITE TV.

Yet bare-knuckle fighting is not the end goal, but rather a launching pad back to where he longs to be. Green built a successful MMA career, where he reached the UFC by the age of 27. He had six bouts in the Octagon, winning half, including a two-fight win streak in his final pair of fights. And, as implausible as it seems, he plans on returning.

“The UFC, it’s all I dreamed about since I was 16,” says Green. “There were unfortunate circumstances that forced me out of the UFC temporarily, and I want to emphasize temporary. I know I’ll get back. My life is dedicated to getting back.”

Green was released from the UFC due to serious legal issues. In August 2018, he was part of a multicar crash, which resulted in two deaths. Only weeks before, he was involved in an accident where he was driving with a suspended license and no proof of insurance, and his toxicology report showed a blood-alcohol level exceeding the legal limit. In the multicar crash that included the two fatalities, charges against Green include multiple counts of DUI manslaughter, DUI and serious bodily injury, as well as possession of cocaine, marijuana possession and, for a second time, driving without a license.

Nearly five years later, with a trial still yet to take place, Green remains optimistic that more details will emerge and prove his innocence.

“It is really an unfortunate situation,” says Green. “From the outside looking in, a lot of people don’t know exactly the details and what went down. From Day One, I feel horrible for the people involved. But I wasn’t the one who caused the accident. This is why it’s been five years, and there hasn’t been a trial yet. All the physical evidence is pointing to my innocence.

“Without saying too much, by the end of the year, I’m 100 percent sure I’ll be properly vindicated. But it’s definitely been hard. Not being able to speak on it, not being able to fix it. My heart grieves, too. I know what it’s like to lose loved ones. It sucks being painted as the bad guy when you know you’re not.”

Fighting in the UFC is not currently an option, so Green looked elsewhere for new opportunities. Bare-knuckle fighting provided him an entry back into combat sports, and he has thrived in that realm.

“Fighting is my life,” says Green. “When this opportunity presented itself and I got the opportunity to step into the bare-knuckle world, I jumped at it.”

His next defense of the BYB middleweight title will likely take place in August. Beyond that, his future is full of unknowns.

“I want to show everyone there is more to my story,” says Green. “A lot of people don’t think I can. Everyone else’s opinion, it doesn’t matter. There are no bunk beds in caskets. I believe in myself and I’m following my dream.”

Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.