Ex-UFC star Jimmie Rivera has retired at 36 years old.
Once ranked as high as #3 in the UFC Bantamweight division, the 35-fight MMA veteran and former BKFC title challenger made the walk to the ring for the final time in his home state of New Jersey on Saturday.
Rivera was supposed to face the second UFC hall of famer of his career in former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar at BKFC 82 before the 43-year-old was forced off the card.
‘El Terror’ faced off against replacement Timmy Mason on fight night, confirming it was his retirement fight after getting his hand raised.
Jimmie Rivera retires on a BKFC win, says he’d only come back for Frankie Edgar
Rivera announced his retirement following a third-round TKO win over Mason on the BKFC 82 main card.
Rivera fought 11 times in the UFC and 6 times in BKFC. The New Jersey native also went undefeated in Bellator.
“Unfortunately, I don’t like to end on a sour note, so this will be my last fight,” Rivera said in his post-fight interview.
“There’s only one fight that matters right now and only fight that’ll bring me out of retirement,” Rivera added.
“It’s coming back here at The Rock or something in Jersey. Frankie and I have a little unfinished business.
“It’s all good blood though.
“I really wanted that fight, and out of love and respect, maybe we could do it for the fans, and at the end of the day, we’re both winners, so it don’t matter,” Rivera said of a fight with Edgar.
Jimmie Rivera says Petr Yan was the best striker he’s ever fought
Rivera fought seven world champions across MMA and bare knuckle boxing.
Rivera once had a record of 21-1 in MMA and holds wins over Urijah Faber, John Dodson, Cody Stamann, Thomas Almeida, and Brian Kelleher.
Rivera also fought Aljamain Sterling, Petr Yan, Marlon Moraes, and Jeremy Stephens.
Yan got his flowers from Rivera for being the best striker out of the bunch.
“I’m gonna say that probably the best striker would be Petr Yan,” Rivera told Bloody Elbow last month.
“Out of all the guys I fought, one of the best boxing, kickboxing, takedown defense…
“He’s, hands down, a very good fighter,” Rivera said of Yan.