“El Terror” took some time to chat with MMA Mania before his FOX-televised main card bout opposite potent Brazilian Iuri Alcantara at UFC ‘Newark’ on Sat., Jan. 30, 2016. Rivera touches on the Bantamweight title picture, MMA in New York and much more.
Don’t look now, but up-and-coming Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight prospect Jimmie Rivera is quickly approaching the Top 15 in the 135-pound division.
The New Jersey-based mixed martial arts (MMA) practitioner hails from the Tiger Schulmann’s camp in Elmwood Park and has captured gold in regional promotions like Ring of Combat (ROC), as well as Cage Fury Fighting Championship (CFFC). A case could be made for the 26-year-old Rivera, which says that he hasn’t even hit his prime.
“El Terror,” who hasn’t lost since 2008, owns wins over Pedro Munhoz and Marcus Brimage in ZUFFA. Rivera now turns his attention to No. 14-ranked Iuri Alcantara at UFC on FOX 18, which takes place in his homestate of New Jersey on Sat., Jan. 30, 2016.
Rivera recently took some time out of his training schedule before his pivotal clash with the well-versed veteran Alcantara to speak with MMAmania.com to discuss Frankie Edgar, being overlooked, game planning for “Marajo” and more.
With the holidays over and done with just a month ago, and an abundance of food on the table, I wanted to learn more about what you do in your career as far as weight cutting goes?
Rivera: Earlier in my career when I started cutting to bantamweight, I missed weight and realized I really needed to get a nutritionist. I have a guy, who’s name is Jim as well, and he’s got a deli that’s right next to our headquarters where we train in Elmwood Park. He’s been helping me with my diet ever since. He’s kind of like a Mike Dolce, but not Mike Dolce. I get my meals from him, too, because he has diet — really healthy food.
Should fighters compete closer towards their natural weight?
JR: I try to stay close to my natural weight because cutting weight really takes a toll on your body. My whole opinion on the IV ban and all this is — the best thing for fighters is to stay on weight. They’ll just feel a lot better and be healthier. You’ve got a guy in Frankie Edgar, who cuts barely nothing to make 145 because he walks around at that.
Have you gotten a chance to train with Frankie or other of the local New York/New Jersey MMA stars?
JR: I actually got to train with Frankie recently right before his fight with Chad Mendes. I met his coach in Brazil right after my fight and spoke to him and he said to come on in. I went down to spar with him and it was great working with him. It was a blast. I got to spar with him and {World Series of Fighting Bantamweight champion] Marlon Moraes. It was a good time.
Do you go anywhere else besides Tiger Schulmann’s MMA and work with a different coach?
JR: We have an All-American wrestling coach. Jiu-jitsu coaches come in. We have kickboxing coaches. We basically have everything at our facility. The only time we cross train with people is to get different looks. Once in a while, we’ll go to Bellmore Kickboxing to train with [Dennis] Bermudez. We have local boxing guys that we train with.
Switching gears, will you change your attitude towards talking trash seeing as how some fighter’s are picking up their promotional talents?
JR: I don’t talk trash. I’m not really that kind of person. A lot of it is how you perform in the cage. He [Frankie] performed great and knocked out Chad Mendes. I think he deserves a title shot right away, but how long is the guy going to wait? I don’t really believe in talking smack, but if you want to call someone out and fight them, call them out and fight them. Urijah Faber was looking for a fight in December before he fought Frankie Saenz. I called him out, not in a bad way, but let’s do it, let’s fight. I’m willing to take the fight. The biggest thing for me that I’m focusing on is working my way up the ladder and getting into the Top 10.
Do you feel Urijah Faber deserves another title shot?
JR: It all depends on what the UFC wants to do. I don’t know the rankings off the top of my head, but I know he’s up there. Aljamain Sterling’s up there. It would make sense for him to get the title shot, or for him [Faber] to fight Sterling for the No. 1 contender spot. I know Raphael Assuncao has been out with an injury. I don’t know when he’s coming back. [Michael] McDonald just came back, it’s kind of hard to see. I see it going either way. He’s up there, why not give him the title shot?
Moving on to your young Octagon career, is it nice getting to fight on American soil for once?
JR: I just asked for a fight, it doesn’t matter where it is. The only thing that’s important to me is that I get to fight as much as I can. I was so happy to get on the Jersey card being a Jersey boy. It’s awesome, but it didn’t really matter, as long as I’m working my way up.
What would it mean for you to compete in Madison Square Garden?
JR: I have my school in the city. It’s right in my backyard. I know a lot of fighters from New York and New Jersey would love to fight in NYC. NYC is the center of the universe for everything and I think it’s ridiculous that it’s [the MMA bill] not passed yet. It would bring more of an income to the city and help them.
If we could go off track for just a moment, not that many people know you tried out for The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season 14, but lost to Featherweight contender Dennis Bermudez via knockout. Did that loss spur you to train with him at Bellmore?
JR: I had nothing against the guy. After the show was over, we became friends and got in contact with each other and said, ‘Why don’t we train together? You’re a 145-er, I’m a 135-er. Why not?’ He’s a tough, cool guy. Looking back at it now, and seeing where I’m at, I have no regrets because you know what? It might’ve just not been my time. I was able to get a lot of experience fighting around. I’m really glad I didn’t make it on because I was able to get better.
Do you feel as if you’re overlooked?
JR: Being overlooked and whatever it is, it doesn’t bother me at all because I always make my noise in the cage. My first fight I had the knockout and second fight, Pedro Munhoz, is just an incredibly tough opponent. I’m always focused on the task at hand. I’m going to try and get that ‘W’ at home on Jan. 30.
Were you somewhat happy in a way that your fight with Pedro went the distance because you were able to showcase more of your weapons?
JR: I wasn’t happy because I didn’t get the finish. My goal in every fight is to get the finish. I learned a lot from the fight and he was obviously a tough opponent. I don’t think any fighter wants it to go the distance. Every fighter wants to go in and get the knockout or submission.
What’s your gameplan for Alcantara, or are you focusing on improving yourself more so than what your opponent is doing?
JR: When I’m not fighting, it’s always about getting my game better. When I do fight, I always try to have a couple of gameplans with my coaches so when I get in there, I have different options. I have one of the best lefties in ROC right now; he trained with me for the Brimage fight and now this fight. I actually have two lefties, one is Julio Arce and [the other] King of Pancrase Andy Main, so being able to work with those guys I feel good and ready.
What are your expectations for this fight?
JR: My expectations are to hopefully get the finish on the feet, or where ever, and if the performance bonus comes, it comes. It’s not something I’m going to dwell on. I’m really dwelling on just getting the ‘W.’