Jimmie Rivera (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

As Jimmie Rivera waits to see who his next opponent will be, the bantamweight contender is accusing Dominick Cruz of ducking him.

Rivera (22-2) is coming off a decision win over John Dodson in September, which followed his stoppage loss to Marlon Moraes in June. Recently the New Jersey fighter appeared on MMA Junkie Radio. During the interview, Rivera had this to say about Cruz, after relaying he was hoping to secure a bout with Cody Garbrandt (quotes via MMA Junkie):

“He’s not injured,” Rivera claimed, while referring to Garbrandt, who was stopped by TJ Dillashaw for a second time this past August. “His pride is hurt right now. It happens. He got knocked out, and the second time was worse. He got plenty of time to recover. It’s been almost six months. It’s time to get back on the horse.”

“I want to get in there and mix it up and have some new guys like myself and other new guys to come in there and get these fights,” Rivera added. “I was supposed to fight Cruz, and he got hurt, and Cruz had an opportunity to fight me or (John) Lineker. He said Lineker – he wanted to take an easier fight. Cody’s the only one that doesn’t have a fight.”

Rivera was supposed to face Cruz in December, 2017, but the former champ broke his arm and had to withdraw. Recently Combate reported that a fight between Cruz and Lineker is in the works for UFC 233, January 26th.