Nathan Rivera has emerged as an exciting new contender in the jam-packed BKFC featherweight division.
On Friday at BKFC 69, Rivera cruised to 3-0 in the Squared Circle with a dominant unanimous decision over Justin Street at the sold-out Gas South Arena in Rivera’s hometown of Atlanta. The event was broadcast live worldwide on The BKFC App.
Rivera recorded back-to-back, first-round stoppages in his first two trips to the Squared Circle, but he looked even more impressive during Friday’s five-round masterclass.
Rivera always aims to add a spectacular finish to his highlight reel, but he’s not upset over going to the judges’ scorecards for the first time in his BKFC career.
“Coming from all first-round finishes to going the distance with somebody who’s tough as nails is going to be hugely beneficial in the development of my career,” says Rivera, 27.
“I feel like I earned some stripes on Friday. I stuck to the game plan, and I kept my emotions in check when I couldn’t get the finish. It was an amazing experience to be in there with Justin, who brings a lot to the table, and put on a longer exciting fight for the fans.”
Rivera knows that long-term success in bare knuckle fighting is closer to a marathon than a sprint, but he’s already itching for the opportunity to bring home his fourth victory with the world’s fastest-growing combat sports promotion.
“My manager told me to take it easy, enjoy the victory, and take a few days off. That was (Saturday) morning, and when I was in bed that night I was already texting him to get back in there,” Rivera says with a laugh.
“Early January would be awesome.”
The stacked BKFC featherweight division is one of the deepest weight classes in the organization, and the fast-rising Rivera has added even more depth to the mix heading into 2025.
“Everybody around me believes in me and already sees me as the Champion, but I’m just taking this one fight at a time,” he says.
“I don’t want to rush anything. There’s a lot of experience to be had. I learned so much on Friday, and I’m just so excited for all these fights along the way to the belt.”
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