Jimmie Rivera

Jimmie Rivera (born June 29, 1989) is an American professional mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle boxer, currently signed to Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). Prior to signing with BKFC, Rivera competed in the UFC's Bantamweight division, and achieved status as a top 5 UFC bantamweight contender. Rivera has formerly competed for Bellator, the World Series of Fighting, CFFC and King of the Cage, where he was the KOTC Bantamweight Champion.

Background A native of Ramsey, New Jersey, Rivera was a former Ramsey High School wrestler.

Mixed martial arts career Early career A Tiger Schulmann MMA product, Jimmie Rivera started his career in 2007 when he was 18 years old. After compiling an undefeated 7–0 record as an amateur within only two years, he moved to professional mixed martial arts.

As a professional, he fought only for New Jersey's promotion Ring of Combat before signing with Bellator in 2009.

Bellator Fighting Championships Rivera made his debut on April 10, 2009, at Bellator 2 against Willie Gates. Rivera won via submission in the third round.

Rivera faced Nick Garcia on June 12, 2009, at Bellator 11. He defeated Garcia via unanimous decision.

King of the Cage Rivera faced Abel Cullum on September 17, 2010, for the KOTC flyweight title. Rivera won via split decision (49-46 Rivera, 49-46 Rivera, 48-47 Cullum) after five rounds and became the new champion.

Rivera made a title defense against Jared Papazian on February 3, 2011. After five rounds he won via unanimous decision and retained his belt.

The Ultimate Fighter Rivera appeared in the first episode of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller. He lost via TKO in the second round against Dennis Bermudez during the entry round.

Return to Ring of Combat Rivera returned to ROC on June 15, 2012, against Justin Hickey for the bantamweight title. He won the title via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27) in a three-round match.

Rivera defended his belt once against Joel Roberts on September 14, 2012.

Rivera was expected to face Anthony Leone on November 18, 2011. It was rescheduled to happen on April 27, 2012, but for undisclosed reasons the fight was scrapped.

Second Bellator run Rivera faced Jesse Brock on December 7, 2012, at Bellator 83. He won via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 29–28).

Rivera faced Brian Kelleher on April 4, 2013, at Bellator 95. He won via unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, 29–28).

World Series of Fighting Rivera faced Sidemar Honório on September 14, 2013, at WSOF 5. He was able to come through after taking a significant amount of damage in the first round, and managed to recover in the second and third rounds using his strength and wrestling skills. Rivera won the fight via unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, 29–28).

Ultimate Fighting Championship Rivera made his promotional debut and faced Marcus Brimage on July 18, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 72, replacing an injured Ian Entwistle. He won the fight via KO in the first round.

Rivera faced Pedro Munhoz on November 7, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 77. He won the fight via split decision.

Rivera faced Iuri Alcântara on January 30, 2016, at UFC on Fox 18. He won the fight by unanimous decision. The win also earned Rivera his first Fight of the Night bonus award.

Rivera faced Urijah Faber on September 10, 2016, at UFC 203. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Rivera was expected to face Bryan Caraway on January 15, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 103. However, Caraway pulled out of the fight citing an injury, and Rivera rejected the replacement Marlon Vera due to the lack of rank and relevance in the division.

Rivera faced Thomas Almeida on July 22, 2017, at UFC on Fox 25. He won the fight by unanimous decision, extending his win streak to 20.

Rivera was expected to face Dominick Cruz on December 30, 2017, at UFC 219. However Cruz withdrew from the fight after he suffered a broken arm in training and was replaced by John Lineker. On December 24, Lineker pulled out of the fight citing a tooth infection. After a failed negotiation with Marlon Moraes in an attempt to remain on the card, Rivera announced that he would not compete at the event.

Rivera faced Marlon Moraes on June 1, 2018, in the main event at UFC Fight Night 131. He lost the fight by knockout in the first round due to a head kick and punches. This marked the first time Rivera had been finished in his professional MMA career.

Rivera faced John Dodson on September 8, 2018, at UFC 228. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Rivera faced Aljamain Sterling on February 17, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 1. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Rivera faced Petr Yan on June 8, 2019, at UFC 238. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Rivera was scheduled to face Marlon Vera on February 8, 2020, at UFC 247. However, Rivera pulled out of the fight on January 23 citing an injury.

Rivera faced Cody Stamann in a featherweight bout on July 16, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

A rematch against Pedro Munhoz was scheduled on January 30, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 20. On December 26, it was announced that the bout was moved to January 20, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 20. The pairing was rescheduled once again in early January as they were moved to UFC 258 on February 13, 2021, due to undisclosed reasons. During the week leading up to the event, the bout was delayed again due to a positive COVID-19 test for someone within the two camps. The pairing remained intact and instead took place on February 27, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gane. Rivera lost the fight via unanimous decision. This bout earned him a Fight of the Night bonus award.

In August 2021, it was reported that Rivera had finished his fight contract and was removed from the UFC roster.

Global Fight League On December 11, 2024, it was announced that Rivera was signed by Global Fight League.

Rivera was scheduled to face Cameron Else on May 25, 2025 at GFL 2. However, all GFL events were cancelled indefinitely.

Bare-knuckle boxing In November 2021, it was announced that Rivera had signed an exclusive contract with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

Rivera made his debut against Howard Davis on June 24, 2022, at BKFC 26. The back-and-forth bout ended in a majority draw.

Rivera faced Bekhzod Usmonov on May 19, 2023, at BKFC 43, and won the bout via unanimous decision.

Rivera faced Jeremy Stephens on December 2, 2023, at BKFC 56, and lost by TKO due to doctor stoppage.

Rivera faced two-time Bellator Featherweight World Champion Daniel Straus in the main event on May 11, 2024, at BKFC 61. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Rivera was scheduled to compete for the BKFC Featherweight Championship against Kai Stewart in the main event on November 9, 2024 at BKFC on DAZN 2. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Rivera was scheduled to face former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar on October 4, 2025 at BKFC 82. However, for undisclosed reasons, Edgar pulled out and was replaced by Timmy Mason. He won the fight by technical knockout in the third round.

Personal life

It was announced that Rivera graduated from New Jersey police academy on late January 2023.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (Two times) vs. Iuri Alcântara and Pedro Munhoz One successful title defense King of the Cage KOTC Flyweight (135 lb) Championship (One time) One successful title defense Ring of Combat ROC Bantamweight Championship (One time) One successful title defense

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Pedro Munhoz Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gane

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Cody Stamann Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Ige

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Loss

Petr Yan Decision (unanimous) UFC 238

Chicago, Illinois, United States Loss

Aljamain Sterling Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. Velasquez

Phoenix, Arizona, United States Win

John Dodson Decision (unanimous) UFC 228

Dallas, Texas, United States Loss

Marlon Moraes KO (head kick and punches) UFC Fight Night: Rivera vs. Moraes

Utica, New York, United States Win

Thomas Almeida Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Weidman vs. Gastelum

Uniondale, New York, United States Win

Urijah Faber Decision (unanimous) UFC 203

Cleveland, Ohio, United States Win

Iuri Alcântara Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Bader

Newark, New Jersey, United States Win

Pedro Munhoz Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson 3

São Paulo, Brazil Win

Marcus Brimage KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Leites

Glasgow, Scotland Win

Carson Beebe KO (punch) CFFC 48: Good vs. Burrell

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Anthony Durnell TKO (punch) CFFC 43: Webb vs. Good

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Cody Stevens Decision (unanimous) CFFC 35: Heckman vs. Makashvili

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Sidemar Honório Decision (unanimous) WSOF 5

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Brian Kelleher Decision (unanimous) Bellator 95

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Jesse Brock Decision (unanimous) Bellator 83

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Joel Roberts Decision (unanimous) Ring of Combat 42

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Justin Hickey Decision (unanimous) Ring of Combat 41

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Jared Papazian Decision (unanimous) KOTC: Empire

San Bernardino, California, United States Win

Abel Cullum Decision (split) KOTC: No Mercy

Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States Win

Carlos David KO (punches) Ring of Combat 29

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Claudio Ledesma Decision (unanimous) UCC 1: Merciless

Jersey City, New Jersey, United States Win

Nick Garcia Decision (unanimous) Bellator 11

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Willie Gates Submission (triangle choke) Bellator 2

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Tyler Venice Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) Ring of Combat 23

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Loss

Jason McLean Decision (split) Ring of Combat 22

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Fernando Bernandino Decision (unanimous) Ring of Combat 21

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Mixed martial arts exhibition record Loss

Dennis Bermudez TKO (punches) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller (airdate)

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Bare knuckle boxing record Win

Timmy Mason TKO BKFC 82

Newark, New Jersey, United States Loss

Kai Stewart Decision (unanimous) BKFC on DAZN Montana: Stewart vs. Rivera

Billings, Montana, United States Win

Daniel Straus Decision (unanimous) BKFC 61

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Loss

Jeremy Stephens TKO (doctor stoppage) BKFC 56

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Win

Bekhzod Usmonov Decision (unanimous) BKFC 43

Omaha, Nebraska, United States Draw

Howard Davis Draw (majority) BKFC 26

Hollywood, Florida, United States