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UFC Fighter Walks Out Of Post-Fight Interview After Learning Of Navid Afkari's Execution
Lightweight Bobby Green wasn't interested in talking following his win at UFC Vegas 10.
The 34-year-old, who had just beaten Alan Patrick via unanimous decision, cut his post-fight interview short after discovering that Navid Afkari had been execution.
Iranian wrestler Afkari gained global attention after he was convicted of stabbing a security guard to death during anti-government protests back in 2018, although there was never any evidence to suggest he was guilty other than a confession tape - and it's understood he was tortured into confessing.
Afkari was subsequently given the death sentence for his supposed actions, leading to international outcry begging for his release with US president Donald Trump and UFC boss Dana White leading the charge.
But despite countless calls for his life to be spared, the decorated athlete was sadly executed over the weekend.
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Every morning Navid's mother checked the judiciary's website to see whether he was alive or not. Today he's not. The whole family is broken right now. In a taped message from inside the prison, Navid said: If I'm hanged, know that an innocent man has been killed. pic.twitter.com/3mLuEJYpmV
- Masih Alinejad :flag_white:️ (@AlinejadMasih) September 12, 2020
The news sent shockwaves around the world with many calling for immediate action to be taken against the Iranian state.
And the story didn't sit particularly well with people in the combat sports community - Green being one of them.
Following his lightweight bout with Patrick, Green ended up walking out of his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping after hearing the news of Afkari's death.
"I thought we were going to be able to save him," Green said.
"Broke my heart, bro."@BobbyKGreen walks off his interview after learning of the passing of Navid Afkari. pic.twitter.com/3f0ZrYUJFo
- UFC (@ufc) September 13, 2020
"He just lost his life? That messed me up. Somebody lost their life for protesting. That just messed me up."
Bisping attempted to shift the focus of the interview back onto the fight, but Green wasn't going to let that happen - he knew this was a far more important topic of conversation.
"There's nothing to talk about, man," Green said.
"That guy just lost his life. I don't even want to talk right now. That's just so sad - it's messed up. Y'all pulled that right before my fight and that just really blew my mind. I can't even talk right now, bro. Thank you so much. Sorry."
Green then took his headset off and walked off camera.
"Thank you Bob, it's beautiful that you feel that way," Bisping said.
"Congratulations on a great performance."
Featured Image Credit: Twitter/UFC
Topics: Iran, Michael Bisping, UFC, latest news, Australia, MMA, Dana White, Updates