The usual names have generated the most interest leading up to UFC 203 Saturday night, including a fighter who has yet to compete in an actual MMA match.
But slightly buried on the pay-per-view main card is a 27-year-old nicknamed “El Terror” that could have his defining moment.
Jimmie Rivera gets to face multi-time UFC title contender and former WEC champion Urijah Faber in a bantamweight bout that will be second on the PPV lineup right before CM Punk takes on Mickey Gall and the two heavyweight battles close out the show.
If you don’t know who Rivera is yet, search UFC Fight Pass for any of his three previous wins. That includes a finish of Marcus Brimage in just over a minute and a pair of decision victories vs. Pedro Munhoz and Iuri Alcantara.
The former Cage Fury Fighting Championships bantamweight champion and former King of the Cage flyweight titleholder has competed previously for Bellator and was cast on the 14th season of The Ultimate Fighter. His run on TUF ended at the hands of Dennis Bermudez, but he won all four of his fights with Bellator.
In fact, Rivera hasn’t tasted defeat since a 2008 split decision loss in his second MMA fight. He’s reeled off wins in his last 18, with six being finishes.
