A UFC fighter named Irwin Rivera has been arrested and charged with two counts of attempted murder, as first reported by ESPN.
The sports website reported Thursday that Rivera was arrested by the Boynton Beach Police Department in Florida’s Palm Beach County after two women were found with multiple stab wounds.
A police representative, Stephanie Slater, said the athlete was accused of stabbing his two sisters.
A police report shared by MMA Fighting shows that Rivera’s sisters told the police they were awakened from sleep to find Rivera “repeatedly stabbing them with a knife.”
Both women were taken to a hospital, one of them having suffered two punctured lungs, per the police report.
The police report quoted Rivera as later saying “I killed my sisters,” adding that it “was his purpose” and that he was instructed to do so by a “higher power.”
Rivera has been competing in pro MMA since 2014 and has fought in the Legacy FC, Combate Americas, and Titan FC fighting firms.
In 2020 he signed for the UFC and fought all three of his UFC bouts behind closed doors because of the coronavirus pandemic, losing twice and winning once.
A UFC statement said the company has been made aware of the incident, and it described the allegations against Rivera as “extremely troubling.” The company added that it wouldn’t be offering a bout to Rivera at present.
“The allegations are extremely troubling and the organization is currently gathering additional information. The investigation is ongoing, and any potential next steps including disciplinary action or medical attention will be determined upon the conclusion,” the UFC said in its statement.
“Furthermore, UFC has informed Rivera’s management that he will not be offered a bout at this time.”
