Bobby “King” Green was born Bobby Ray Green on September 9, 1986, in San Bernardino, California. His childhood was marked by hardship: at age five, he was placed into foster care when his father was incarcerated and his mother was unable to care for him due to substance abuse problems. After the loss of his grandmother—who had cared for him and his brother—Green was taken in by the parents of a wrestling teammate, offering stability and enabling him to continue wrestling.
During high school at A.B. Miller High in Fontana, California, Green discovered wrestling as an outlet and excelled—earning All-State honors and becoming a state-level standout on the CIF circuit. His wrestling talent paved the way for his entry into mixed martial arts. After an impressive amateur wrestling performance, he ventured into a professional MMA fight in Mexico with just two weeks of training and emerged victorious, setting the stage for his career.
Green turned pro in 2008 and quickly built a reputation on the regional scene. He captured titles in King of the Cage—becoming both Lightweight and Junior Welterweight champion—and then transitioned to Strikeforce, where he secured four wins in five bouts. When UFC acquired Strikeforce in 2011, Green became part of the UFC roster in 2013. He made an immediate impact in his debut, defeating Jacob Volkmann via third-round submission, establishing himself as a dangerous and dynamic new talent in the promotion.