Bobby Green submits Jeremy Stephens in first round at UFC 328

Bobby Green submitted Jeremy Stephens in the first round at UFC 328 on May 9, 2026, adding another impressive finish to what has become a late-career resurgence in the lightweight division.

Green, now 35-17-1 with one no contest, has rattled off three consecutive victories and continues to perform with remarkable energy at 39 years of age. The submission finish underscored his finishing ability and reinforced his momentum among the 155-pound contenders.

Stephens, known as "Lil' Heathen," falls to 29-23 following the defeat, his third straight loss. The 40-year-old American, who trains out of Alliance MMA, has managed just one win in his last eleven outings, a stretch that raises serious questions about where his career goes from here. The orthodox-stance striker stands five-foot-nine with a 71-inch reach and lands 3.15 significant strikes per minute at 40 percent accuracy, while also averaging 1.11 takedowns per fifteen minutes — a well-rounded profile that has simply not translated into results in recent years.

Why it matters

• Green's three-fight winning streak positions him as a credible name in the lightweight division heading into the second half of 2026.
• Stephens has now lost ten of his last eleven bouts, making a path back toward relevance in the division increasingly difficult to map.
• The first-round submission finish highlights Green's finishing ability, adding a layer beyond the striking aggression he is typically known for.
• The result may prompt the UFC to reassess Stephens' place on the roster given the prolonged skid.