UFC 203 live blog: Urijah Faber vs. Jimmie Rivera

CLEVELAND – This is the UFC 203 live blog for Urijah Faber vs. Jimmie Rivera, a bantamweight bout at Saturday night’s UFC event at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.Faber, who has won three of his past five fights, will face Rivera, who has won 18 straight fights, on the main card.Check out the UFC 203 live blog below.

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Round 1: Big chance for Rivera here to make his name off of the longtime contender Faber. The pop for Faber as he walked out was (as expected) huge. Referee for this one Gary Copeland (Little Brock). No touch of gloves, as Rivera is quick to Faber, and delivers a kick. Faber returns fire, and as he does Rivera comes over top with a punch that sends Faber off balance momentarily. Quick clinch with Rivera hammering Faber with a nice uppercut. Faber deking the change of levels, and Rivera sturdy on outside. Faber looking for entrance point, and he lands a nice right hand. High kick from Faber off a feint, and Rivera still cooly biding his time. Faber waving the jab at him now, more for range. and they clinch. Frenetic action in there, knees colliding. Overhand right from Faber errant, and he follows with an inside leg kick. Ric Flair “woos” going on all over the Q. Faber narrowly avoids getting clipped with a left, and pivots with the circling Rivera. Sweet little left uppercut there from Faber, who then hammers it home again. Nice progression. Rivera circles the entire perimeter, and Faber hits him wit ha short right hand — and Rivera gave Faber back a parting shot that snapped his head back. Plenty of action here. But both guys being careful not to do anything stupid. Combo from Rivera ends with Faber literally shoving him in the chest with both hands. Nice exchange there, with Rivera landing a left hook …

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