Former UFC contender Jimmie Rivera previews BKFC title fight against Kai Stewart

There are hardly any bigger title fights for Jimmie Rivera.

The former UFC bantamweight contender is one half of BKFC in the DAZN 2 main event, taking on featherweight champion Kai Stewart this weekend in Billings, Montana. Rivera’s title opportunity comes after two wins in the ring, his last being a decision over former Bellator champion Daniel Straus in May.

Rivera came close to getting a title shot during his time in the UFC, at one point having a record of 21-1 and a No. 4 ranking to his name. “El Terror” would never fight for the belt, as he was in a top contender fight against Marlon Moraes was unable to achieve this and exchanged wins and losses against the leaders of the 135-pound class such as Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan.

Kai Stewart is looking forward to defending the BKFC title against UFC veteran Jimmie Rivera

Rivera now fights without gloves in the 145-pound weight class and challenges the undefeated, no-holds-barred Stewart for his first shot at a major world title.

“His personality is a little strange, but as a fighter he’s definitely tough,” Rivera told MMA Knockout about current champion Stewart. “He doesn’t bring what I bring, but he’s definitely tough. He definitely has a good gas tank and he goes out and fights, which is cool, which I appreciate as a fighter.”

“I think I did really well [UFC] I’m a bantamweight and I think I could have changed a few things, but when you fight at that high level and fight the best in the world, you’re still learning and getting better. What I know now that I wish I had known back then, I think, could have helped me in my career.

“I feel 10 times better,” Rivera said of the featherweight bout, having previously fought over the limit at catchweight and lightweight in BKFC. “I was always a very big bantamweight. It was always a hard break for me. Fighting at 145 is obviously a lot easier to cut.”

The 35-year-old Rivera is proficient in bare-knuckle boxing and has had five fights under the BKFC banner. There are no finishes yet for the UFC veteran, but he’s looking to knock out the durable Stewart late in the fight in rounds 4 and 5 to be crowned the new BKFC featherweight champion.

“That would mean a lot,” Rivera said of winning the world title. “It doesn’t compete with the UFC because it’s a different art form, but it’s definitely one of the big top promotions in terms of how many fights they put on a year and what fighters are in it, what’s going on and what they do bring “the table.”

“So it will mean a lot to me. “It means a lot to me to win the belt, bring it back to Jersey, work to hopefully make it legal in New Jersey, and also bring it back to my friends and family.”

Experience BKFC Montana live on DAZN this Saturday.

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