Irwin Rivera is a Mexican mixed martial artist who competes in the Bantamweight division of the Eagle Fighting Championship.
A professional mixed martial artist since 2014, Rivera has competed for Combate Americas, Ultimate Fighting Championship, and Titan FC where he was the Bantamweight Champion.
You can follow Irwin Rivera’s biography, personal details, career details, relationship status, net worth, fight purses, earnings, fight records, achievements, and more here.
Irwin Rivera’s Biography
| Category | Information |
| Full Name | Irwin Rivera |
| Nickname | The Beast |
| Birth Date | February 14, 1989 |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Weight | 135 lb (61 kg) |
| Birthplace | Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico |
| Nationality | Mexican |
| Turned Professional | 2014 |
| Current Net Worth | $500,000 |
| Relationship Status | Single |
| Instagram Profile | @irivera144_1 |
Irwin Rivera was born on February 14, 1989, in Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, Mexico. He immigrated with his parents to New Windsor, New York where he grew up.
Rivera has a younger sister named Kelly, an older sister named Lezlye, and a brother.
Rivera initially trained for boxing but later transitioned into mixed martial arts after his boxing gym closed its doors.
Professional Career
Rivera made his professional debut on November 7, 2014, at Fight Time 21, where he defeated Andre Cuff by split decision. He quickly built momentum, winning his next two fights via TKO against Chris Navarro and John Rivera.
After a setback in Combate Americas, Rivera joined the Titan Fighting Championship in 2018. His debut for the promotion was unsuccessful, losing to Edir Terry due to a leg injury.
Rivera was elevated to undisputed Bantamweight Champion on November 11, 2019, after the reigning champion vacated the title. He successfully defended his title against Danny Sabatello at Titan FC 58 on December 20, 2019, winning by fourth-round TKO.
Rivera’s success in Titan FC caught the attention of the UFC. He vacated his Titan FC title in May 2020 to sign with the promotion.
He faced Firdavs Khasanov at Eagle FC 46 on March 11, 2022, winning by second-round TKO. Rivera competed in a bare-knuckle MMA bout at Gamebred FC 4 on May 5, 2023, defeating Joseph Penafiel by unanimous decision.
His most recent fight was at Gamebred Fighting Championship 5 on September 8, 2023, where he lost to Joshua Weems by unanimous decision.
Irwin Rivera’s Net Worth Details
Irwin Rivera’s net worth is estimated to be $500,000 as of 2025. This includes his fight purses, bonuses, and endorsement deals.
Fight Purses
| Opponent | Event | Purse |
| Firdavs Khasanov | Eagle FC 46 | $50,000 |
| Andre Ewell | UFC Fight Night 178 | $28,000 |
| Ali AlQaisi | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Oleinik | $24,000 |
| Giga Chikadze | UFC Fight Night 172 | $22,000 |
Career Earnings
Throughout his MMA career, Irwin Rivera has earned an estimated total of $250,000 in fight purses and bonuses. His biggest paydays came from his fights in the UFC and Eagle FC.
Fight Records
| Record | Wins | Losses | Draws |
| 11-6-0 | 11 | 6 | 0 |
Achievements
- Titan FC Bantamweight Champion (2019)
- One successful Titan FC title defense
- UFC fighter (2020-2021)
FAQs
1. What is Irwin Rivera’s primary MMA background and which weight classes has he competed in?
Rivera is a Mexican-American mixed martial artist who primarily competes at bantamweight (135 lbs), but he has also taken fights at featherweight (145 lbs) in major organizations.
2. What are the highlights of Rivera’s professional MMA career?
He was Titan FC’s Bantamweight Champion and made one successful title defense before joining the UFC. Rivera has also competed in Combate Americas, Eagle Fighting Championship, and Gamebred FC.
3. How did Rivera perform during his UFC tenure, and who were his opponents?
He fought three times for the UFC in 2020, defeating Ali AlQaisi and suffering close decision losses to Giga Chikadze and Andre Ewell, all in highly competitive bouts.
4. What is Rivera’s overall professional MMA record and finishing rate?
Rivera owns a record of 12 wins and 7 losses, with five wins by knockout, one by submission, and six by decision, reflecting a well-rounded and aggressive fighting style.
5. What styles and techniques define Rivera’s approach in the cage?
Known for southpaw striking and boxing roots, Rivera mixes aggressive flurries, high work rate, and strong body attacks. His technical striking is the cornerstone of his offense.
6. What are Rivera’s most notable post-UFC career highlights?
Rivera won his Eagle FC debut in 2022 by TKO and secured a unanimous decision win over Joseph Penafiel in bare-knuckle MMA at Gamebred FC 4. He recently competed against Joshua Weems in 2023.
7. Has Rivera experienced significant injuries or setbacks?
He suffered injuries such as a leg injury loss in Titan FC and endured a lengthy layoff due to serious legal and mental health struggles in 2021, which affected his fighting continuity.
8. What legal and mental health challenges did Rivera face?
Rivera was arrested for stabbing his two sisters during a psychotic episode. He was diagnosed with bipolar I disorder, found not guilty by reason of insanity, and released under strict conditions to continue treatment.
9. How has Rivera’s family responded to his mental health crisis?
Both sisters survived without lasting damage and publicly forgave and supported Rivera. He now lives with family, who remain actively involved in his care and rehabilitation.
10. What is Rivera’s outlook and support system for continuing his MMA career?
Rivera is cleared to compete, provided he remains on medication and under psychiatric care. Friends and MMA teammates, including Gilbert Burns and Sean Soriano, help monitor his well-being as he resumes professional fighting.
