Marlon Moraes and Jimmie Rivera locked horns in the UFC Fight Night 131 main event, as the Ultimate Fighting Championship on Friday made its debut in Utica, New York. The Top-10 bantamweights had a long history of bad blood, so it was no shock when they passed on the touch of gloves once referee John McCarthy brought them to the center of the Octagon for final instructions.
It did not take long for the fight to play out. A mere 30 seconds into the opening round, Moraes uncorked a thunderous switch kick that connected flush with Rivera’s temple and sent him crashing to the canvas.