Blue-collar nature serves UFC’s Rivera well

PHILADELPHIA -- Fighting was never about getting famous for Jorge Rivera.

It's a good thing.

Despite seven victories in 13 Ultimate Fighting Championship appearances, a stint on Season 4 of "The Ultimate Fighter" and matchups against some of the bigger names in mixed martial arts, the 39-year-old middleweight has flown largely below the radar.

Rivera has been the consummate grinder, willing to take on anyone the company lined up for him. He has seen his time in the UFC as a job and treated it as such. Even now, in what could be the final fight of his career, Rivera didn't blink when his opponent switched from Alessio Sakara to Constantinos Philippou just more than a week before Saturday's UFC 133 card at the Wells Fargo Center.

"It's my job," he said. "I get told who I fight, and if that's who they want to see, that's who I fight."

That blue-collar attitude has kept Rivera in the fight business and in several exciting bouts, though he says his mentality isn't much different from most average workers.

"I think that's life in general for most of us," he said. "Nobody is really given anything. You have to either earn it or take it, and I've done a little bit of both."

It was a bit surprising when Rivera attracted attention in his most recent bout for a series of prefight videos mocking his opponent, Michael Bisping, and the ensuing reaction of his British counterpart.

Rivera chalks it up as good, clean fun and fight promotion getting blown out of proportion.

All part of the gig.

While he wants to put the situation behind him, Rivera is just fine with his place in MMA history should his career conclude Saturday.

"When I started training, my dream was just to fight in the UFC. I got to the UFC, and I won," he said. "Then my dream was to fight the best, and I have done that. I'm very happy with what MMA has done for me personally. I'm grateful to the sport, and I'm in debt (to it)."

He's not ready to say this fight will be his last, but Rivera is realistic about his future. A loss to the 31-year-old Philippou would be his second straight defeat and could get him released from the UFC. He says he would not seek employment elsewhere as a fighter.

"I don't want to be a 40-year-old guy fighting in small organizations for a paycheck. I've had an outstanding run here. I'm cool with how things are," he said. "Everything in life has a beginning and an end, and it's time to move on when you come to that crossroads."

A win won't necessarily keep him around, either. Rivera says he would have no problem walking away off a victory, depending on how he feels.

"There are much more important things in my life than fighting," he said. "Don't get me wrong; I love the attention, and I love to hear the fans go nuts. That's a big part of the reason I do it, but the thing that's most important to me is my kids."

Rivera lost his 17-year-old daughter, Janessa, in 2008. Her death is not something he discusses before a fight, other than to say it has "affected (him) for obvious reasons."

Retirement would afford him the opportunity spend more time with his three children, and the sooner he makes the decision, the clearer his head will be in the future.

"It's not going to do any of us any good if I can't remember or do anything properly with them," he said. "What's the point?"

A victory on Saturday could make his decision a bit more difficult.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.