#6 ranked Bantamweight contender Jimmie Rivera will not fight at UFC Phoenix after all. Rivera was originally scheduled to face #5 ranked Bryan Caraway, but it was announced that Caraway was off the card due to medical reasons recently. There was hope that we would see Rivera fight when it was announced that Marlon Vera had stepped in, but it has emerged today that Rivera has declined to take the fight, and will not be fighting on the card.
Rivera revealed the news that he wouldn’t be on the card over social media.
I apologize to my fans and students. I will not be fighting next Sunday in Phoenix Arizona. Due to my opponent injury i am out of my fight.
— Jimmie Rivera (@JimmieRivera135) January 7, 2017
Rivera (20-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) debuted in the UFC with a first round knockout in just under two minutes of Marcus Brimage at UFC Glasgow. In his second fight, Rivera took a split decision over Pedro Munhoz at UFC Sao Paulo before defeating Iuri Alcantara, also by decision. In his most recent fight, Rivera defeated Urijah Faber via unanimous decision at UFC 203.
UFC Fight Night 103 takes place live from the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona on January 15, 2017. The card is set to be headlined by a featherweight fight between Yair Rodriguez and BJ Penn.
