Jorge Rivera

From CageWiki

1 Profile
2 Early Career
3 Early UFC Career and Cage Rage
4 The Ultimate Fighter
5 Post-TUF UFC Career
6 Mixed martial arts record
7 Gallery
8 External links

Profile

Jorge "El Conquistador" Rivera (born February 28, 1972) is an American professional mixed martial artist training out of Team Sityodtong in Milford, Massachusetts.

He stands 6 ft. 1 in. (185 cm) tall and fights in the middleweight division (185 lbs.).

Rivera was a cast member on The Ultimate Fighter 4: The Comeback and currently fights as a middleweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Early Career

Jorge Rivera made his professional mixed martial arts debut on June 23, 2001 for the Reality SuperFighting promotion. He was defeated in his debut by dominating wrestler, Brandon Lee Hinkle via TKO in 1:54 of round 1.

Rivera gave birth to his first professional victory nine months later as he knocked Brian Hawkins up and out in one round at a TFC FightZone event.

After scoring another TKO victory in his next bout, Rivera picked up the most notable victory of his early career as he stopped Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt, Travis Lutter with strikes in the third round.

Two months later, Rivera submitted Andy Lagden with a rear naked choke which he followed with a knockout victory over future TUF 3 competitor, Solomon Hutcherson.

Early UFC Career and Cage Rage

With a five fight win streak, Rivera earned himself a contract with the UFC. He made his UFC debut at UFC 44 against talented Canadian Muay Thai fighter, David Loiseau. In a back and forth battle, Rivera began to edge out a tiring Loiseau as the fight went into the dying moments of the third round. Rivera sealed the victory with a big knockdown with just seconds remaining in the third round.

At UFC 46, Rivera met British banger and future criminal mastermind, Lee Murray. Rivera scored an early takedown but was then surprisingly easily submitted by Murray who scored the triangle choke/armbar victory in just 1:45 of round 1.

Rivera had a brief run outside of the UFC after the Murray loss which featured two TKO victories over James Gadbert and UFC veteran Mark Weir (in his Cage Rage debut).

At UFC 50, Rivera met Rich Franklin, who was making his middleweight debut. In another back and forth battle, a drained Franklin eventually came out on top in the third round as he submitted Rivera with an armbar.

Rivera headed back to Cage Rage after the loss where he rebounded with a knockout victory over future TUF 9 competitor, Alex Reid.

At Cage Rage 11 in April of 2005, Rivera faced off against PRIDE veteran, Anderson Silva and was stopped in the second round with knees and punches.

He followed the Silva loss with two consecutive wins over Danny Vega and Marcelo Azevedo.

Under one month after the Azevedo victory, Rivera was back in the UFC at UFC 55 facing off against former UFC lightweight title challenger, Dennis Hallman. In a dull fight, Rivera came out on top via unanimous decision after three rounds.

In June of 2006, Rivera squared off against TUF 1's Chris Leben at UFC Fight Night 3. Leben caught Rivera early with a looping bomb that put him down and eventually out at the 1:44 mark of round 1.

The Ultimate Fighter

Rivera returned to the smaller shows after the Leben loss and scored a TKO win over Timothy Williams. Shortly after the victory, Rivera signed on as one of eight middleweight contestants on The Ultimate Fighter 4: The Comeback.

The show offered UFC veterans who had had little to no success in the Octagon a chance at redemption with the winner of each weight class earning themselves a shot at their respective division's champion.

Rivera faced Patrick Cote in the opening round of the tournament and was looking good until he was dropped with an upkick. From then on it was all Cote who eventually racked up a unanimous decision, knocking Rivera out of the competition.

At The Ultimate Fighter 4 Finale, Rivera met fellow contestant, Edwin Dewees. Rivera dominated Dewees, eventually stopping him with punches in 2:37 of round 1.

Post-TUF UFC Career

In February of 2007, Rivera was knocked out cold by Terry Martin in just 14 seconds at UFC 67. The concussive blow severely fractured Rivera's jaw.

Rivera was out of action for almost a year, eventually returning on the main card of UFC 80 against TUF 3 middleweight winner, Kendall Grove. Considered as a tune-up fight for Grove, Rivera shocked a lot of people as he laid Grove out in just 1:20 with punches.

At UFC 85, Rivera was given the task of fighting the returning Martin Kampmann who had just finished rehabbing a severe knee injury. Rivera was submitted by Kampmann with a guillotine choke in 2:44 of round 1.

Another long break from fighting was in store for Rivera who did not return to the Octagon for another ten months. In that break he had to endure the tragic loss of his daughter after she suffered a deadly reaction to the pill. Rivera admirably returned to competition at UFC Fight Night 18 against WEC veteran, Nissen Osterneck. Rivera defeated Osterneck via split decision after three rounds and dedicated the victory to his daughter.