UFC news has been lighting up everyone’s feed lately- especially when it comes to #UFC230, the first ever trade between UFC & ONE Championship, and of course, Jimmie Rivera calling out Cody “No Love” Garbrandt for the next ‘must-see’ UFC main event.
Sports As Told By A Girl had the opportunity to sit down with the balls-to-the-wall, ready to brawl Rivera to get the inside scoop on what’s next in the octagon and UFC.
There’s been a lot going on in the UFC over the past few weeks, including the first ever UFC trade; what are your thoughts on Mighty Mouse being traded away and acquiring Ben Askren?
RIVERA: I think it was a win-win for both companies, but it put ONE on the same level as the UFC. ONE isn’t known well in the United States because it doesn’t have any shows, but it’s huge in Asia and within that demographic.
Who do you think Mighty Mouse matches up against in ONE?
RIVERA: To be honest, I don’t know the fighters that well, but there are a lot of guys -a lot of 25-ers- and there’s been talks about the UFC getting rid of 125, so it should be interesting to see what happens.
Flyweight division. Is it safe or could you see it going away soon?
RIVERA: I think it’s going to go away. With everything going on and the fact that there’s a Bantamweight division, there are a lot of rumors. Supposedly they don’t get the numbers they want to get from the flyweight division because it really attracts the causal fan instead of the MMA enthusiast, so I think it’ll eventually go away.
Trades in the future of UFC, who do you think will be next to have their contract released, if anyone, to go to ONE?
RIVERA: I think a good majority of the Flyweights will probably leave. Some of them may move up and then eventually leave, but the majority will just leave, especially if they get rid of it. I think some of the top ranked guys will stay, but it’s a hit or miss because ONE is paying good money.
Is there anyone from ONE Championship you’d like to see come to the UFC?
RIVERA: Askren was the number one, so the fact that he’s in the UFC now, I can’t wait to see who they match him up with and how he does.
So Diaz, Poirer, Khabib and Askren they’ve all spoken about changing welterweight from 170 to 175, adding a 165 division, do you think they’ll do it?
RIVERA: Yeah, I think they’ll do it and I think it’ll help out because you have a lot of in-betweeners. It won’t thin out the other divisions, it’ll just build and make 165 and 175 strong. Plus, it’ll open the opportunity for 185 to drops down to 175.
GSP or Askren VS. Khabib, can you see that being a future fight?
RIVERA: I know they keep talking about Khabib VS. GSP, but it can definitely happen in the future, it depends on how long Khabib’s going to be suspended for.
Looking at the roster right now, who do you think could give Khabib his first loss?
RIVERA: I think either Askren or Georges St-Pierre. They have a good opportunity to be able to do that.
Let’s discuss what’s next for you. Team Alpha Male, you’re going after Garbrandt, if Cody accepts, how soon are you looking to set that date?
RIVERA: A month, two months, it doesn’t matter.
And if he refuses, are you calling out Dominick Cruz again?
RIVERA: Anybody in the top five.
Tonight’s fight, you picked Lewis in UFC 229, are you going with him again? What are your predictions?
RIVERA: I know DC is the favorite, and is the better of the two fighters being well-rounded, but I just have a feeling Derrick Lewis may pull another KO, so I’m going with Lewis. Plus, his balls are hot.
What do you think about Stipe not getting an immediate rematch?
RIVERA: I think he should have gotten the immediate rematch, but I guess it just didn’t work out that way.
What do you think about Lesner getting the next fight?
RIVERA: I think Lesner, business wise, it’s smart for the UFC to put him up for the title fight. Being a fan, you should really fight Stipe to get that title shot. I think that would be fair if Stipe isn’t fighting Cormier right away.
