Things weren’t exactly going Jeremy Stephens’ way against Jimmie Rivera – until he changed that with one punch.
Making his bareknuckle boxing debut, Stephens earned a doctor’s stoppage TKO over fellow former UFC standout Rivera on Saturday night at BKFC 56 in Salt Lake City. The fight was called after the third round when Rivera suffered a nasty laceration over his left eye thanks to a Stephens uppercut.
It was a disappointing end for Rivera, who was effective through two rounds as he attacked both the head and body and appeared to be the quicker fighter. But Rivera couldn’t land a power punch that could phase Stephens.
In Round 3, Stephens turned the tide once he scored a knockdown as the clinched with Rivera once he closed distance. That one shot not only dropped Rivera but cut him open.
Once the doctor got a closer look, Rivera was deemed unfit to continue with the cut.
With the loss, Rivera is now 0-1-1 in BKFC. He drew with Howard Davis in his debut last year.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for BKFC 56.
Story originally appeared on MMA Junkie
