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Dante Rivera

TRAINING: Strength and conditioning in the AM, MMA early afternoon, Jiu-Jitsu at night.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I was playing in a basketball game and at half time, I walked by a school that was in the complex and saw some guys training jiu-jitsu. The instructor there walked up to me told me to come back and try out the next day. I did, and I was submitted about 10 times in ten minutes by a guy much smaller than me, so from there I was hooked.

What titles have you held? I’ve held the NABC world title, USKBA cruiserweight, Combat in the Cage middleweight, Reality Fighting middleweight and Ring of Combat middleweight titles.

Do you have any heroes? Ricardo Almeida, Renzo Gracie.

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? Everything in the world. It was always a goal of mine to make it here and the fact that I’m blessed enough to achieve that goal means everything to me.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? No

What was your job before you started fighting? Car salesman

Ranks in any martial arts styles: Brown belt in Jiu-Jitsu under Ricardo Almeida

Favorite grappling technique: leg lock

Favorite Striking technique: straight left

OTHER

• All but one of his fights have taken place in New Jersey.

• He lost his lone fight outside of the state to Tim Kennedy in Atlanta in February 2007.

• Won two in a row and four out of five leading up to The Ultimate Fighter.

• Eight wins by submission (5) or TKO (3)