LAS VEGAS – Maurice Greene says he’s entering Saturday the healthiest he’s been in a very long time.
Greene (9-5 MMA, 4-3 UFC) takes on Marcos Rogerio de Lima (17-7-1 MMA, 6-5 UFC) on the main card of UFC on ESPN 24, which takes place at the UFC Apex and airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.
“The Ultimate Fighter 28” alum has had mixed results in the octagon thus far, but since moving to the renowned Jackson Wink MMA in Albuquerque, he feels he’s made marked improvements in his game. Though he dropped his most recent outing to Greg Hardy in October, Greene says he was dealing with some nerve issues that acted up in the fight.
“Part of the way through my training camp, I had some nerve issues,” Greene told MMA Junkie at Wednesday’s media day at the UFC Apex. “In the first round, my right arm went numb, and it spooked me. I was sitting on the stool, my right arm was numb, it spooked me. I got it back, and when Greg hit me, all four of my limbs went numb. That last-ending sequence, all four of my limbs went numb, and I was getting it back, so I was a little scared. This is your nerves, you know? It’s nothing to play with.
“Sometimes they don’t come back. Sometimes they will, so I told myself after this fight I was going to do a couple of things. I was going to get my ass in the gym, and I was going to lift weights because I needed that. I think that’s the biggest catalyst of my career that’s holding me back because some of these guys just hit harder and they’re bigger than me. So since January, I’ve been in the gym and changed my body composition. … Mentally, physically and spiritually, I’m better than ever. You guys are going see the improvements Saturday.”
Greene has been pretty active since officially joining the UFC roster in November 2018, fighting three times in 2019 and again in 2020. This six-month break has been the longest layoff for him in between fights, and now that he’s taken the necessary time to make adjustments, Greene is excited to display what he’s been working on.
“Just like I think about any other matchup, I honestly feel in my heart of hearts, I’m better than all of these guys,” Greene said. “There’ll be a lot of people who say ‘No he’s not.’ Yeah, I have a lot of potential and it’s time to live up to that potential.”
