Nathan Rivera is yet to leave the first round in his BKFC career.
The 27-year-old featherweight always hunts for the finish, but he’d be happy to put on a longer show in his next trip to the Squared Circle at BKFC 69. He meets Justin “The Nightmare” Street on Dec. 6 in BKFC's hugely anticipated debut in Georgia at Gas South Arena in Rivera’s hometown of Atlanta, LIVE worldwide on The BKFC App.
“I was just talking to a coworker and he was telling me not to knock this guy out in 20 seconds,” Rivera says with a laugh. “All of the fights that I’ve won here have been by first-round knockout, ever since I was an amateur.
“A part of me wants a long, five-round, back-and-forth banger, and I think this is somebody who can bring that to me. He’s so durable and is coming up on his 13th pro fight. He’s a battle-tested vet — somebody who could hang in there for five rounds and help make it a really exciting fight.”
Rivera knows that Georgia could become a major regional hotspot for BKFC, the world’s fastest growing combat sports promotion. He’s honored to help introduce the sport to Peach State fans attending a BKFC event for the first time.
That being said, Rivera is ready to represent his hometown on the global stage.
“I love fighting at home, but I don’t want to just be a hometown fighter,” he says.
“I want to fight four or five times next year. (BKFC Founder/President David Feldman) was very receptive when I told him that. He just said be ready, and I am.”