Former Final Preventing Championship (UFC) Featherweight Francisco Rivera has fought his last battle.
California regional promotion Up Subsequent Preventing (UNF) held its last occasion of 2024 final evening (Sat., Nov. 30) inside Commerce On line casino in Commerce, Calif. In the primary occasion, Rivera took on fellow UFC veteran Albert Morales for the UNF Featherweight championship. It didn’t take lengthy, as Morales stopped Rivera within the first spherical with vicious floor and pound, leading to a technical knockout (TKO).
Watch the stoppage under:
Following his first-round loss, “Cisco” retired from blended martial arts (MMA) at age 43.
“Thanks to everybody who got here out. That is formally my final battle,” Rivera mentioned. “I had 30 fights in my profession. I put my complete life into this battle sport. 12 fights within the UFC and fought the highest guys within the UFC. I attempted to maintain combating, however I can’t do that anymore, guys. I can’t do that no extra. I recognize everybody who supported me all through my complete profession…I simply wish to thank everybody who is aware of who I’m, the place I come from and what I did.
Rivera ends his combating profession with a 16-10 file. The California-based fighter fought within the UFC from 2012 to 2016 and completed his run with a 4-6-1 file because of testing optimistic for the banned substance clenbuterol, which resulted in a four-year suspension. He did earn a Battle of the Evening with John Lineker at UFC 191. “Cisco’s” largest UFC spotlight was his brutal 21-second knockout of Alex Caceres in 20115, and he’s nonetheless the one fighter to knock out Bruce Leeroy.
After his UFC tenure and suspension, Rivera returned to the regional scene, combating in XMMA, Combate International, and UNF, with blended success.