UFC fighter Irwin Rivera arrested on premeditated first-degree murder charge

UFC bantamweight Irwin Rivera was arrested and detained on Thursday on two counts of premeditated first-degree murder.

Online arrest records for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (Florida) show that Rivera was charged in custody at 12:08 pm Thursday at the Main Detention Center in West Palm Beach. No link has been established for the 31-year-old fighter. Several requests for comment from the office’s public information officer were not responded to, and a dispatch official said he could not provide any information about the case.

Rivera’s manager Ali Abdelaziz did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A UFC official provided a statement to MMA Fighting confirming that Rivera’s career is on hold pending an investigation of the promotion.

“The UFC is aware of the recent incident involving Irwin Rivera and has subsequently received information from his management that he has shown behavior consistent with mental health problems,” says the statement. “The complaints are extremely worrying and the organization is collecting additional information. The investigation is ongoing and any possible next steps, including disciplinary action or medical attention, will be determined upon completion. In addition, the UFC informed Rivera’s management that he will not have a fight at this time. “

According to MMA reporter Eric Kowal, the first to report Rivera’s arrest, the fighter was arrested on suspicion of stabbing his sisters. Other details about the charges against the UFC veteran were sparse.

In Florida, charges of premeditated first-degree murder carry a potential death sentence or life sentence.

Online records indicate that Rivera lives in Boynton Beach, Florida. He most recently fought in the octagon last October, when he lost on split decision to Andre Ewell at UFC Vegas 11. Former Titan FC champion, he is 1-2 on three UFC tours.