Irwin Rivera
The Beast
Mexico
Granted conditional release
Rivera has been granted a conditional release from custody following his January arrest on two counts of attempted murder, ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Rivera pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the two charges, and that plea has since been approved by a judge. Testimony from doctors, which described this as an "acute episode of psychosis" due to his bipolar disorder, appears to have helped his case, as has the support of his family (the alleged victims were his two sisters). Rivera will now live with his immediate family, and he will be allowed to travel outside the area as long as he's accompanied by immediate family members or approved close friends. Interestingly enough, that includes MMA teammates Gilbert Burns and Sean Soriano. It's of course secondary, but given he's allowed to work and travel with MMA teammates, a path for a return to fighting exists (assuming the UFC or another organization would have him back). Rivera is 1-2 under the UFC banner, most recently losing to Andre Ewell in September of 2020.
Rivera pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the two charges, and that plea has since been approved by a judge. Testimony from doctors, which described this as an "acute episode of psychosis" due to his bipolar disorder, appears to have helped his case, as has the support of his family (the alleged victims were his two sisters). Rivera will now live with his immediate family, and he will be allowed to travel outside the area as long as he's accompanied by immediate family members or approved close friends. Interestingly enough, that includes MMA teammates Gilbert Burns and Sean Soriano. It's of course secondary, but given he's allowed to work and travel with MMA teammates, a path for a return to fighting exists (assuming the UFC or another organization would have him back). Rivera is 1-2 under the UFC banner, most recently losing to Andre Ewell in September of 2020.
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More Fantasy News
Out of upcoming fight
Rivera is no longer scheduled to face Ray Rodriguez on March 13, Marcel Dorff of MMADNA.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
The news is hardly a surprise after Rivera was arrested on two counts of attempted murder in early January. Rodriguez will now take on Rani Yahya
The news is hardly a surprise after Rivera was arrested on two counts of attempted murder in early January. Rodriguez will now take on Rani Yahya
Arrested for attempted murder
Rivera was arrested Thursday in Florida on two counts of attempted murder, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
This is obviously shocking news for Rivera and the entire UFC community. There are still many details that have yet to be disclosed and the UFC will certainly outline disciplinary action as the situation develops further. For the time being, Rivera's scheduled March 13 fight against Ray Rodriguez seems highly unlikely to take place.
This is obviously shocking news for Rivera and the entire UFC community. There are still many details that have yet to be disclosed and the UFC will certainly outline disciplinary action as the situation develops further. For the time being, Rivera's scheduled March 13 fight against Ray Rodriguez seems highly unlikely to take place.
Added to March 13 event
Rivera will take on Ray Rodriguez in a bantamweight bout at the UFC event March 13, MMAJunkie.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Rivera will be making his fourth start with the promotion where he will look to break his record to an even 2-2. Rivera most recently fought in September when he fell to Andre Ewell via split decision. He will be at a three inch reach disadvantage against Rodriguez.
Rivera will be making his fourth start with the promotion where he will look to break his record to an even 2-2. Rivera most recently fought in September when he fell to Andre Ewell via split decision. He will be at a three inch reach disadvantage against Rodriguez.
Falls to Andre Ewell
Rivera lost to Andre Ewell via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 28-29) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
It's not a particularly positive sign for the rest of the evening that this fight went to a split decision. Rivera showed plenty of toughness and was never in a ton of trouble throughout the course of the bout, but he also clearly lost. The hand speed of Ewell was simply too much for Rivera to overcome. The 31-year-old New York native has now alternated wins and losses through his first three UFC fights.
It's not a particularly positive sign for the rest of the evening that this fight went to a split decision. Rivera showed plenty of toughness and was never in a ton of trouble throughout the course of the bout, but he also clearly lost. The hand speed of Ewell was simply too much for Rivera to overcome. The 31-year-old New York native has now alternated wins and losses through his first three UFC fights.
Next fight on books
Rivera (hand) is scheduled to square off against Andre Ewell in a bantamweight matchup at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas on Sept. 19, Aaron Bronsteter of TSN.ca reports.
ANALYSIS
Despite emerging with his first career UFC win in mid-August, Rivera was given a 180-day medical suspension following his clash with Ali Qaisi with a potential right hand injury. He's obviously been cleared of any lingering concerns and will now prepare for a fight versus an opponent in Ewell who sports a massive seven-inch reach advantage to go along with two inches of height. Given that Ewell wants to stay upright, Rivera may need to look for an opportunity to get in some takedowns if he wants to keep on a winning track. While it's been better of late, Ewell sports just a 66 percent takedown defense after he was taken down seven times in his first three fights.
Despite emerging with his first career UFC win in mid-August, Rivera was given a 180-day medical suspension following his clash with Ali Qaisi with a potential right hand injury. He's obviously been cleared of any lingering concerns and will now prepare for a fight versus an opponent in Ewell who sports a massive seven-inch reach advantage to go along with two inches of height. Given that Ewell wants to stay upright, Rivera may need to look for an opportunity to get in some takedowns if he wants to keep on a winning track. While it's been better of late, Ewell sports just a 66 percent takedown defense after he was taken down seven times in his first three fights.