In the Jimmie Rivera Melissa Balic interview, the former Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter said Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship offered him the most money after his previous contract ended. Rivera also told me why fighting Brandon Mayer at New Jersey’s Prudential Center mattered to him, and why he expects his technique, experience and cardio to make the difference.

Why did Jimmie Rivera value fighting Brandon Mayer in New Jersey?

Jimmie Rivera saw a home fight against Brandon Mayer as a chance to compete in front of family and friends, not just as a competitive advantage. He said the setting at the Prudential Center gave him extra motivation, while his experience in an earlier bare-knuckle fight had taught him to slow down and enjoy fight week.

Fighting at the Prudential Center

Rivera agreed that competing at home gave him an edge. The New Jersey venue meant people close to him could watch, a consideration he returned to when describing his motivation for this fight. He also spoke about being a role model for his children: he wanted them to see what it looks like to work toward a goal and keep pursuing it.

Taking more time during fight week

He contrasted this approach with a fight the previous October, when he felt everything went quickly and was over before he had taken it in. This time, Rivera said he had spent the preceding days having fun rather than rushing through them. For him, enjoying the occasion and preparing to compete were both parts of fighting at home.

Why did Jimmie Rivera choose Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship?

Jimmie Rivera said Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship made the highest-paying offer he received after his previous contract ended. The move also interested him because it was different from mixed martial arts: he could focus on boxing without preparing for kicks, wrestling or jiu-jitsu in the same contest.

Rivera described money and the change in rules as separate reasons for accepting the opportunity. He did not present the move as a rejection of every other kind of fighting. Instead, he explained that the offer was strongest financially and that concentrating on punches appealed to him at that point in his career.

That focus changes what he needs to account for against an opponent. In his explanation, the attraction was straightforward: bare-knuckle competition let him put aside several elements that had been part of his mixed martial arts fights. He did not give a figure for the offer or identify the other organizations that had approached him.

What advantage does Jimmie Rivera expect against Brandon Mayer?

Jimmie Rivera expects his technique, fight experience and cardio to give him an advantage over Brandon Mayer. He acknowledged that Mayer is tough and swings hard, but said he believes his own ability to work consistently will matter more when they face each other in the ring.

Rivera’s assessment was about how he expects the matchup to unfold, not a claim that Mayer lacks power. He specifically identified Mayer’s big swings as something to recognize. Against that, Rivera pointed to the number of fights he has had and his confidence in staying effective over the course of a bout.

His answer also fit the reason he gave for choosing bare-knuckle competition. With kicks, wrestling and jiu-jitsu removed from the contest, Rivera was looking toward a boxing-based fight in which he believed his technical approach and conditioning could do the work. He did not offer a prediction about a finish or a particular round.

How does Jimmie Rivera manage his Short Hills school and detective work?

Jimmie Rivera said he owns two martial arts schools and works as a detective. He spends about three or four days a week at his school in Short Hills. Between those responsibilities and fighting, he said the time he has left usually goes to his family or to more work.

Two schools and a regular presence in Short Hills

Rivera pushed back on the idea that he owned only one school, clarifying that he has two. Short Hills is the school where he mainly spends his time. His account described a routine built around being there regularly rather than a business he oversees only from a distance.

Fighting as a bonus check

When I asked about work beyond fighting, Rivera explained why earning a living outside competition mattered to him. He viewed opening a school and doing work he loved as ways to support himself and his family. Rivera summed up his view of fighting income this way:

I knew that fighting was just like a bonus check

He also confirmed that he is a detective, though he did not explain how he entered law enforcement. His answer made the demands on his time clear: school, detective work and family all have a place alongside competition.

What did Jimmie Rivera say about the planned Frankie fight?

Jimmie Rivera said he was told medicals were the reason a previously planned fight with Frankie did not happen. He offered no further account of the medical issue and said it was Frankie’s business to discuss, even though the two had spoken afterward.

Rivera drew a clear limit around what he was willing to say. Being told a reason for the fight falling through did not, in his view, give him the right to explain someone else’s circumstances publicly. He did not identify a new date or say that the matchup had been rescheduled.

That answer also matters when considering the names Rivera later raised for a possible Real American Freestyle match. His willingness to face Frankie again was not an update on the earlier fight. It was one option he mentioned when I asked whom he would consider facing under the promotion.

Who would Jimmie Rivera face in Real American Freestyle?

Jimmie Rivera said Sterling, Frankie or Marab would be appealing opponents for a Real American Freestyle match. He responded positively to the idea of facing a recognizable name with a New Jersey or New York connection, but did not say that a match with any of them had been arranged.

Frankie’s name came up again despite the earlier bout that did not materialize. Rivera included him alongside Sterling when discussing possible opponents, then added Marab. He did not describe negotiations with any of the three or give a preferred date or venue.

The discussion was about a match Rivera would consider, not a confirmed addition to his schedule. He gave a short list of opponents who interested him and left the specifics open.

Melissa Balic

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