It hasn’t been a particularly memorable Christmas for UFC bantamweight Jimmie Rivera.
The 21-1 New Jersey native had been placed in his highest profile match-up to date opposite Dominick Cruz in the co-main event of this weekend’s UFC 219 in Las Vegas. However, an arm injury suffered by Cruz in training forced his withdrawal.
John Lineker put his hand up and was duly awarded with the task of replacing Cruz but a tooth infection picked up mandated his own removal from the card leaving Rivera without a dance partner for the UFC’s last show of the year.
Enter Marlon Moraes. The Mark Henry trained fighter has fought twice since the middle of November, a decision against John Dodson and a stunning first round knockout of Aljamain Sterling and duly threw his hat into the ring to be the third replacement opposite Rivera on Dec. 30th.
But after deliberations and further concessions with weight, a deal could not be struck and that leaves Rivera off the Dec. 30th card which, as of now, has just ten fights on it.
And Rivera was not a happy man, adding that he missed out on Thanksgiving, Christmas and his honeymoon in order to prepare for the bout.
Let’s be clear on the situation. I’m in Vegas ready to fight. Missed Thanksgiving. Missed Christmas. Missed honeymoon. Was prepared. Was a professional. Cruz out. Lineker out. Marlon full of shit.
— Jimmie Rivera (@JimmieRivera135) December 26, 2017
.@TJDillashaw @DominickCruz @Cody_Nolove I’m ready whenever you are…
— Jimmie Rivera (@JimmieRivera135) December 26, 2017
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