Bobby Green: Most UFC fighters too worried about winning rather than putting on exciting fights

Bobby Green thinks many fighters have the wrong mentality when they get into the UFC.

The UFC lightweight told Ariel Helwani on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour that he believes fighters get into the big leagues and try to hang on there for dear life -- even if that means grinding out some victories just to put a "W" on their record. That mindset seems to annoy Green to no end.

"F*ck that," Green said. "You're supposed to live in the moment. I have not liked any of my fights since I've been in the UFC. All these guys are just trying to win. I'm trying to make the most exciting fights happen. I want to make the next Ali and Frazier fight. I want to have the next Dominick Cruz and T.J. [Dillashaw] fight, the next Conor [McGregor] and Nate [Diaz] fight -- those fights that put you on the edge of your seat."

Green (23-6) has been out of action since November 2014 after suffering a torn quad, followed by a torn ACL. He has been cleared to fight now and he'll take on Dustin Poirier at UFC 199 on June 4 in Los Angeles. "King" isn't sure Poirier will come to fight in that bout, but he hopes so.

"All I'm saying is that all these guys are pitty-patting and trying to get a 'W,'" Green said. "I'm trying to get a check. I'm trying to get a real big check. ... I'm trying to knock Dustin's head off."

Green, 29, put together an eight-fight winning streak before and was closing in on a lightweight title shot before falling to Edson Barboza at UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. Swanson. The former Strikeforce standout owns wins over Josh Thomson, James Krause and Pat Healy. He has been somewhat of forgotten man in the division due to injuries, but has honed in on a few potential fights in the future.

Green has expressed interest in fighting Eddie Alvarez, Al Iaquinta and Diego Sanchez. Green was supposed to fight Iaquinta last summer before tearing his ACL in training. The two have developed something of a rivalry on social media and appearances on The MMA Hour. Green, though, says he doesn't "pay attention" to Iaquinta.

"Half these guys ain't trying to do nothing exiting," Green said. "These guys are boring. They're boring and they're not trying to fight."

After what he hopes is a win over Poirier, Green wants to come back and fight in July. Green's younger brother was murdered two years ago and his other brother was shot a few months later. Green was hoping to honor them in a summer bout.

More than anything, though, Green just wants to deliver a thrilling, memorable performance.

"It's a fight," Green said. "When did these guys get in this industry and they're no longer fighters?"