[autotag]Francisco Rivera[/autotag]’s USADA suspension is up in July, and he hopes he’s able to return to his original home.
Rivera (11-7 MMA, 4-6 UFC) tested positive for banned substance clenbuterol during an out-of-competition urine sample collected on July 23, 2016, and was subsequently handed a four-year suspension by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
He has not competed since, and was recently given a license to compete anywhere in California, leading to a scheduled bout on March 20 for the promotion LXF, but the coronavirus outbreak forced the event to be canceled.
Now, with his USADA suspension set to be completed in three months’ time, “Cisco” said he’d love nothing more than a final chance to prove his worth inside the UFC octagon.
“I know I can still put on great shows,” Rivera told MMA Junkie. “I’m definitely one of the best bantamweight fighters who ever fought in the UFC that – the way I fight. I’m always looking for a knockout, I’m always looking for excitement. I’m never one to put on a boring fight and I think now would be the best time to make a comeback to the UFC because fans love the way I fight. Especially now, I feel like it’s more entertainment now.
“Now I feel like anybody who fights exciting and puts on a show, who puts on an act, can make a run in the UFC. Win or lose, and I’m definitely gonna try and make my way back – or if I could just get one more fight and see what happens and get back to doing what I do best, and that’s fighting.”
Though Rivera has lost his last three in a row in the UFC, he’s had some close and controversial losses to the likes of Brad Pickett and Uriah Faber, where wins could have sent his career on a different trajectory.
In his time away from fighting, 38-year-old Rivera has been spending time in Arizona with UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo, and has been mimicking Jose Aldo’s fighting style during training sessions with Cejudo before the Brazilian was eventually replaced by Dominick Cruz.
Now he’s ready to prove his own worth and show that he still has what it takes to compete in the UFC.
“I have Sean Shelby’s number,” Rivera said. “Me and Sean Shelby have been friends for all these years. We still text each other once in a while, and I know if I text him and tell him I’m ready, and maybe I could do it down at the PI and show him how good of shape I am, maybe he’ll give me a fight – or let me go out with one more fight and if I lose, retire. If I put on a show and win, just start from there. You never know. I’ve seen crazier things happen.”