Jimmie Rivera Says Marlon Moraes Fight No Longer On the Table for UFC 219
Jimmie Rivera may go home from Las Vegas empty handed after all.
The No. 3 ranked bantamweight contender lost his opponent for UFC 219 earlier this week when John Lineker was forced out of their bout due to injury.
Several fighters immediately jumped on the chance to take the matchup with Rivera on short notice including Marlon Moraes, who was fresh off a first round knockout against Aljamain Sterling in early December.
Moraes has been calling for a fight with Rivera for months due to some personal beef they’ve shared over the years, but now it appears the bout won’t be happening on Dec. 30.
According to Rivera, Moraes made the offer to fight him on short notice and the New Jersey native offered to accept the bout at 145-pounds after the former World Series of Fighting champion reportedly couldn’t get down to the bantamweight limit in less than a week.
I accept the fight with @MMARLONMORAES and even give him two pound allowance at 138lb #merrychristmas #ufc219
— Jimmie Rivera (@JimmieRivera135) December 25, 2017
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
Rivera claims at that point Moraes retracted his offer to accept the fight and now there’s no chance they’ll be meeting at UFC 219 this weekend.
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
Fellow bantamweight contender John Dodson also made an offer to take the fight with Rivera on short notice but it’s looking more and more likely that no one will end up facing him at UFC 219.
All I want for #Christmas is for @JimmieRivera135 to stop dodging me for the 2nd time. He needs a fight & I'm ready to go #UFC219
— John Dodson III (@JohnDodsonMMA) December 26, 2017
All signs are pointing towards Rivera being pulled from the card with options so limited with only days remaining until the event.
UFC officials have yet to make any announcement regarding Rivera’s status on the card or a potential search for a new opponent.
