Jimmie Rivera’s quest to remain on the UFC 219 card is seemingly at an end because the fighter is reportedly off the show now.
Farah Hannoun first reported the news.
Rivera was initially set to fight former UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz on the card, but Cruz suffered an injury and was replaced by John Lineker. Lineker then suffered an injury that knocked him off the card and reports were saying that former WSOF Bantamweight Champion Marlon Moraes would fight Rivera on less than a weeks notice.
It was Moraes who initially called out Rivera after news of the Lineker injury came out:
@JimmieRivera135 what’s up? Now it’s me and you. You can’t run anymore let’s do this @seanshelby @Mickmaynard2 @danawhite @ufc
— Marlon Moraes (@MMARLONMORAES) December 24, 2017
I accept the fight with @MMARLONMORAES and even give him two pound allowance at 138lb #merrychristmas #ufc219
— Jimmie Rivera (@JimmieRivera135) December 25, 2017
.@MMARLONMORAES @ufc pic.twitter.com/mZEQrAGSir
— Jimmie Rivera (@JimmieRivera135) December 25, 2017
The bantamweight star even went to Twitter to suggest that Moraes could come in at 140 pounds (bantamweight limit is 136 pounds) and the fight would still go on:
I give you 5 extra fucking pounds and you can’t make weight? @MMARLONMORAES you still say no to the fight. Five extra pounds. And this after you say you want to fight me.
— Jimmie Rivera (@JimmieRivera135) December 25, 2017
Things seemingly were going to move forward, especially after Moraes posted the following video on Twitter:
Merry Christmas everybody! @JimmieRivera135 now you fight on my terms. You turn down fight with me two times now I’m ready to fight you buddy on my terms not your terms I’m going to remind you of old memories you know what I’m sayin @danawhite @seanshelby @Mickmaynard2 pic.twitter.com/PWQJn0dikM
— Marlon Moraes (@MMARLONMORAES) December 25, 2017
Then Rivera would go back on Twitter and raise the weight limit to 145 pounds to get the fight made:
Alright let’s do it, 145lb sign the contract. @MMARLONMORAES
— Jimmie Rivera (@JimmieRivera135) December 25, 2017
However, something went wrong and Rivera took to Twitter to say that fight with Moraes was off:
Sorry to my fans, friends and family. @MMARLONMORAES said no to the 10 pounds. Those were his terms, I agreed, and then he withdrew the offer.
— Jimmie Rivera (@JimmieRivera135) December 26, 2017
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
Things would come to an end for Rivera on Twitter when he would call out UFC Bantamweight Champion TJ Dillashaw, former UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz and former UFC Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt for future fights:
.@TJDillashaw @DominickCruz @Cody_Nolove I’m ready whenever you are...
— Jimmie Rivera (@JimmieRivera135) December 26, 2017
There is no word from the UFC right now about the fight being canned or about which fight could move up to the pay-per-view portion of the card.
UFC 219 takes place on Saturday, December 30 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with Cyborg and Holly Holm headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
