Tag: Jimmie Rivera

Dominick Cruz Set To Return At UFC 219

Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz is finally set to return. News arrived tonight that Cruz will take on rising No. 3-ranked Jimmie Rivera at December 30’s UFC 219 pay-per-view (PPV) event from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cruz has been on the sidelines since losing to current champion Cody Garbrandt at the […]

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Former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz is finally set to return.

News arrived tonight that Cruz will take on rising No. 3-ranked Jimmie Rivera at December 30’s UFC 219 pay-per-view (PPV) event from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cruz has been on the sidelines since losing to current champion Cody Garbrandt at the UFC’s last year-ending card of December 30, 2016’s UFC 207.

Prior to that defeat, his only loss in the UFC, Cruz had maintained a peerless record in the octagon, defending the title twice before injuries derailed his otherwise dominant reign. He returned from a lengthy battle with serious knee injuries to win the title from then-champion T.J. Dillashaw in early 2016, defending the title against archrival Urijah Faber before losing the belt to Faber’s Team Alpha Male protegé “No Love.”

He’ll have no easy comeback against Rivera, who’s won all five of his bouts in the UFC, most recently defeating Thomas Almeida at July’s UFC on FOX 25 after he beat Faber and Iuri Alcantara by decision. The New Jersey native has quietly risen up the loaded 125-pound ranks to the cusp of title contention against the winner of the upcoming Garbrandt vs. Dillashaw title bout at UFC 217, something that will almost assuredly be his if he can get past a decorated former champ in Cruz.

Also added to UFC 219 was a women’s strawweight bout between surging Team Alpha Male contender Cynthia Calvillo and former champion Carla Esparza. No main event has been announced for the card, but the Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz trilogy bout has been rumored for the promotion’s New Year’s card.

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T.J. Dillashaw Talks Drama, Responds to Jimmie Rivera’s Sparring Claims

T.J. Dillashaw has grown tired of being surrounded by drama. Dillashaw is set to challenge Cody Garbrandt for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bantamweight title. The bout takes place inside Madison Square Garden in New York City and will be featured on the UFC 217 pay-per-view. Dillashaw and “No Love” have been involved in a […]

T.J. Dillashaw has grown tired of being surrounded by drama. Dillashaw is set to challenge Cody Garbrandt for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bantamweight title. The bout takes place inside Madison Square Garden in New York City and will be featured on the UFC 217 pay-per-view. Dillashaw and “No Love” have been involved in a […]

Jimmie Rivera Claims he Was ‘Piecing up’ T.J. Dillashaw in Training

Jimmie Rivera is making some bold claims in regards to his sparring session with T.J. Dillashaw. “El Terror” is the third ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bantamweight. He hasn’t suffered a loss since Nov. 2008. With his decision win over Thomas Almeida, Rivera is due for a big match-up. Could Dillashaw be next? There would […]

Jimmie Rivera is making some bold claims in regards to his sparring session with T.J. Dillashaw. “El Terror” is the third ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bantamweight. He hasn’t suffered a loss since Nov. 2008. With his decision win over Thomas Almeida, Rivera is due for a big match-up. Could Dillashaw be next? There would […]

Jimmie Rivera Claims he Was ‘Piecing up’ T.J. Dillashaw in Training

Jimmie Rivera is making some bold claims in regards to his sparring session with T.J. Dillashaw. “El Terror” is the third ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bantamweight. He hasn’t suffered a loss since Nov. 2008. With his decision win over Thomas Almeida, Rivera is due for a big match-up. Could Dillashaw be next? There would […]

Jimmie Rivera is making some bold claims in regards to his sparring session with T.J. Dillashaw. “El Terror” is the third ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bantamweight. He hasn’t suffered a loss since Nov. 2008. With his decision win over Thomas Almeida, Rivera is due for a big match-up. Could Dillashaw be next? There would […]

Aljamain Sterling Wants Next Fight on UFC Main Card

With a 14-2 record and six wins in eight Octagon appearances, Aljamain Sterling believes he is deserving of a proper placement for his next fight. That means off the prelims and UFC Fight Pass, and on the main card. Sterling defeated former UFC champion Renan Barao recently at UFC 214. The bout aired on the […]

With a 14-2 record and six wins in eight Octagon appearances, Aljamain Sterling believes he is deserving of a proper placement for his next fight. That means off the prelims and UFC Fight Pass, and on the main card. Sterling defeated former UFC champion Renan Barao recently at UFC 214. The bout aired on the […]

Jimmie Rivera Issues Warning To Dominick Cruz

It appears that former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz may have his next fight lined up. Following his 20th straight win against Thomas Almeida at UFC on FOX 25, Jimmie Rivera is looking for a big fight. The rising contender called out Cruz at a post-fight media scrum in Long Island, New York over the […]

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It appears that former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz may have his next fight lined up.

Following his 20th straight win against Thomas Almeida at UFC on FOX 25, Jimmie Rivera is looking for a big fight. The rising contender called out Cruz at a post-fight media scrum in Long Island, New York over the weekend.

“Defend your spot or get out of the way,” Rivera told Cruz bluntly, per MMA Junkie’s Steven Marrocco and Matt Erickson.

Cruz has been out of action since he lost the title to breakout talent Cody Garbrandt at UFC 207. Despite the loss, he is still ranked as the official No. 1 contender. On the flip side, Rivera has opted to fight T.J. Dillashaw for the interim title.

“What I want next is either to fight T.J. for an interim belt if (champ) Cody (Garbrandt) is still hurt, or get Cruz off the bench and let’s fight,” Rivera told the media.

If you recall, Dillashaw was expected to face the current champion at UFC 213, but the bout has been postponed to an undisclosed date due to a back injury sustained by Garbrandt. Dillashaw lost the title to Cruz last year.

It’s become clear that Rivera is someone to look out for as he is one of the hottest prospects in the division and is hoping to climb one step closer to a title shot by beating Cruz or Dillashaw in the fall.

“I’m hoping to get back in there in November, whether it’s T.J. or Cruz,” he said. “I hope to get back in November in (Madison Square Garden).”

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