Bobby Green Nickname ‘King’; Why Did the UFC Lightweight Change His Name?

‘King’, the fighter previously known as Bobby Green, is known by the fans for his slick and evasive fighting style inside the Octagon. His wins over names like Tony Ferguson, Grant Dawson, and Al Iaquinta are a testament to Green’s skills that he has honed since he became a professional fighter in 2008.

Ahead of his fight against Jared Gordon in 2023, Green stated that he would be legally changing his name to his regal moniker in the future, which he has successfully done. As such, let’s take a look at the reasons behind why he chose the name and the deeper meaning behind his decision.

What did Bobby Green change his name to?

Bobby ‘King’ Green is now officially named ‘King Green’ after the UFC lightweight star changed his first name to ‘King’, which was previously his nickname. Now, his profile on the official UFC website identifies him as King Green. However, this change is not universal as some outlets haven’t yet caught up to the change of name. Green’s official Tapology page, for example still bears his old name.

Green is looking to change his name legally in early July 2024, as he took to Instagram to show fans his updated birth certificate, where his first name had been changed to King.

The UFC lightweight star happily told fans that he had changed his name to King, as promised. “My name is King now. Just to let people know, I wasn’t playing. I really changed my name,” Green declared. But, when did Green get the idea to change his name? Let us take a closer look.

When Green first expressed his desire for a name change

In a surprising move, UFC lightweight contender Bobby Green announced that he would legally change his name to his longtime nickname “King” after the UFC Fight Night 222 bout against Jared Gordon. At the pre-fight press conference for the event, Green clarified that he’s not retiring but rather embarking on a new chapter in his life with the change in names. He stated, “I woke up today and I’m like, ‘I’ve done everything I want to do, why not change my name?’ Who says, ‘Today, I’m going to change my name? F*ck it. Let’s do something different.”

The 37-year-old fighter also expressed his desire to stand out and be unique, highlighting his unconventional approach to life. Green mentioned that he intended to completely rebrand himself by adopting the name “King” without any first or last name attached.

As such, he further went on to explain why he chose the name, “I want to show you can go from being homeless, being a peasant to being a king. I don’t want to be cocky like, ‘Oh, you’re the king, you’re the king.’ I’m not ‘the’ king. I’m ‘a’ king. I’m a king. I built this sh*t myself off of hard work.”

By sharing his own journey, Green hoped to inspire others to overcome adversity and pursue their dreams. His decision to become “King” reflected his resilience and determination to leave a lasting impact both inside and outside the Octagon. And at UFC 300, ‘King’ will attempt to finally settle the fight against Jim Miller that has now been a decade in the making.