Jimmie Rivera has found a new fighting home after parting ways with the UFC.
According to manager Malki Kawa of First Round Management, Rivera, a former UFC bantamweight contender, is set to sign with Bare Knuckle FC. Kawa announced the move in a Monday interview with “The Schmo.” No other details were revealed.
Rivera parted ways with the UFC earlier this year. It’s unclear if he was released or fought out his contract.
Rivera was 16-1 and the CFFC bantamweight champion at the time he joined the UFC in 2015 then got off to a 5-0 start in the promotion, which included wins over Pedro Munhoz and UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber.
Rivera’s first UFC defeat came in June 2018 when Marlon Moraes knocked him out with a head kick and punches in just 33 seconds. That result was the beginning of a 2-4 run to close out his UFC tenure.
Rivera would go on to decision John Dodson and Cody Stamann. He also lost unanimous decisions to current 135-pound champion Aljamain Sterling, current interim champ Petr Yan and dropped a rematch against Munhoz in his last promotional bout at UFC Fight Night 186.
