(PRESS RELEASE) -- Las Vegas, Nevada – The Ultimate Fighter® Fridays episode three – "What We Do" – aired on FX on Friday evening and saw Team Nelson draw even in the competition.
Rivera, a 32-year-old of Puerto Rican heritage, trains at his own gym in Tucson, which he opened in 2008. Prior to devoting his life to MMA, he spent time as an EMT driving an ambulance. The bilingual English and Spanish speaker couldn’t have been happier about his win.
He said: “I felt fantastic after this win. My dreams were finally becoming a reality! The fight was very nerve-racking because he was the number one guy, the first one to get picked. He was also the biggest guy in the house. I felt a lot of tension. It was the hardest fight of my life to that point because I didn’t know much about him and that definitely played a part in how I fought and felt.”
Alvey, 26, a self-processed Star Wars nerd engaged to “America’s Next Top Model” winner McKey Sullivan, suffered a surprise loss after being favored by UFC President Dana White to win the bout.
He said: “Losing the fight was absolutely crippling. I was sadder after that loss then I have ever been before. Joey was one of the nicest guy’s in the house and if I had to lose to someone, I’m glad at least it was to him. But the force is strong in me, and I will bounce back 100 per cent better than I ever was.”
Results after episode three:
Team Carwin (1-1) Sam Alvey (0-1, lost to Joey Rivera by decision in episode 3) Bristol Marunde Mike Ricci Neil Magny (1-0, defeated Cameron Diffley by decision in episode 2) James Chaney Eddy Ellis Igor Araujo Matt Secor
Team Nelson (1-1) Dom Waters Michael Hill Cameron Diffley (0-1, lost to Neil Magny by decision in episode 2) Colton Smith Jon Manley Nic Herron-Webb Joey Rivera (1-0, defeated Sam Alvey by decision in episode 3) Julian Lane
A full recap is available at ufc.com. The series resumes next Friday, October 5, on FX at 10 p.m. ET/PT (check local listings for Central and Mountain Time) with the fourth episode of its 12-week run. In that episode - “Can’t Fix Stupid” – UFC president Dana White treats the fighters to a special outing away from the house, coach Roy Nelson uses a bizarre method to pick the next matchup, one fighter's weight problem puts his future in the show jeopardy and – of course – two more welterweights face off in the Octagon®.
For more show information, bios, videos and photos, visit ultimatefighter.com and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter under our new name @TUFonFX or on Facebook.com/TUF.
Photo credits: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC About the Ultimate Fighting Championship® Universally recognized for its action-packed, can’t-miss events that have sold out some of the biggest arenas and stadiums across the globe, the UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, headquartered in Las Vegas and with offices in London, Toronto and Beijing, UFC produces more than 30 live events annually and is the largest Pay-Per-View event provider in the world. In 2011, the UFC burst into the mainstream with a landmark seven-year broadcast agreement with FOX Sports Media Group. The agreement includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network annually, with additional fight cards and thousands of hours of programming broadcast on FOX properties FX and FUEL TV. This also includes the longest-running sports reality show on television, The Ultimate Fighter®, which now airs on FX.
In addition to its reach on FOX, UFC programming is broadcast in over 149 countries and territories, to nearly one billion homes worldwide, in 20 different languages. UFC content is also distributed commercially in the United States to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions, in English throughout Canada via Premium Sports Broadcasting Inc. and in French throughout Quebec via Interbox. The UFC also connects with tens of millions of fans through its website, UFC.com, as well as social media sites Facebook and Twitter. UFC President Dana White is considered one of the most accessible and followed executives in sports, with over two million followers on Twitter. Ancillary UFC businesses include best-selling DVDs, an internationally distributed magazine, UFC.TV offering live event broadcasts and video on demand around the world, the best-selling UFC Undisputed® video game franchise distributed by THQ, and a new franchise in development with EA, UFC GYM®, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo® festivals, branded apparel and trading cards.
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