Jimmie Rivera (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

Although Jimmie Rivera is coming off a devastating, KO loss to Marlon Moraes in June, it doesn’t sound like the defeat has fazed the bantamweight, heading into UFC 228.

Rivera will return to action tonight at the Dallas event, against fellow contender, John Dodson. While discussing his loss to Moraes, which marked the first time in 20 bouts he had been defeated, Rivera (21-2) said this (quote via UFC.com):

“That’s always been my attitude,” he said. “I get knocked down, I get back up and try harder. It’s nice to have that once in a while. I’m not saying you should lose, but if you do lose, you get that taste, and it makes you work harder. It’s not gonna stop my career just because I lost a fight. People go through challenges throughout the day and people get knocked down, but the biggest thing I tell people is that it’s not what happens when you get knocked down, it’s what you do afterwards.”

Dodson (20-9), meanwhile, is coming off a split decision win over Pedro Munhoz in March.