The 135-pound bantamweight division is one of the most talent-rich divisions in all of MMA. But currently, it feels like it’s at a bit of a standstill.
Despite the myriad of options when it comes to next challengers for the champion TJ Dillashaw, it seems fairly possible that his next bout could be coming against the flyweight champion Henry Cejudo. Which in the meantime would call for some movement to be made at the top of 135.
Two of those that are hanging around at that top are Jimmie “El Terror” Rivera and the former champion Cody “No Love” Garbrandt.
Rivera has been calling for a bout with the former champion long before Dillashaw took the title from him in November 2017. Now with Garbrandt riding two straight losses and Rivera 1-1 in his last two, it seems like now could be the perfect time for the fight to be made. Rivera may happen to think so as well as indicated by his recent comments.
. @Cody_Nolove is such a head case. After he’s finished rehabbing his ego from that last loss he should also grab his balls out of @UrijahFaber purse and get this fucking division moving again.
— Jimmie Rivera (@JimmieRivera135) October 18, 2018
@Cody_Nolove is such a head case. After he’s finished rehabbing his ego from that last loss he should also grab his balls out of @UrijahFaber purse and get this f*cking division moving again.
Of course, UFC Hall of Famer and former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber is Garbrandt’s coach and mentor at gym Team Alpha Male which is why he was mentioned. Rivera also happens to be the last man to defeat Faber.
Most recently Rivera rebounded off of his first loss in nearly 10-years when he earned a unanimous decision win over The Ultimate Fighter season 14 winner John “The Magician” Dodson. Funny enough, Rivera was defeated by featherweight finalist Dennis Bermudez in the elimination round of this season.
As for Garbrandt, there’s been no discussion or signs as to when he’ll return after having last fought in August.
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 10/18/2018