Name Dante Rivera
Nickname N/A
Association [[Renzo Gracie Jiu-Jitsu]] / Ricardo Almeida Jiu Jitsu
Weight Class Middleweight (185 lbs.)
Height 6′ 1″ (186 cm.)
Style Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling
Birth Date December 8, 1974
Fighting Out Of New York, New York
Country USA
Dante Rivera Pictures Official Website

”’Dante Rivera”’ is a American mixed martial artist who competes as a middleweight. He was a cast member of SpikeTV’s The Ultimate Fighter 7 making it to the quarterfinals where he was defeated by Jesse Taylor.

He trains out of Ricardo Almeida‘s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy, which is part of the Renzo Gracie Fight Team.

== Professional Record ==

Record 14 – 6 – 0 (Win â€Â“ Loss â€Â“ Draw)
Wins 3 (T)KOs
8 Submissions
3 Decisions
Losses 1 (T)KOs
1 Submissions
4 Decisions
Result Opponent Method Event Title Date Round Time Notes
Win Dan Cramer Decision (Split) MMA Mayhem: MMA Mayhem at Six Flags 6/19/2010 3 5:00
Win Ryan Contadeli Submission (North-South Choke) UCC 2: Strikedown 5/14/2010 2 3:20
Loss Herbert Goodman Decision (Unanimous) Adrenaline: New Blood 2/26/2010 3 5:00 For New Breed Fighter (NBF) Middleweight Championship
Win Justin Haskins Submission (Rear Naked Choke) ROC 27 Ring of Combat 27 11/20/2009 2 3:51
Win Lamont Lister Submission (Guillotine Choke) ROC 24 Ring of Combat 24 4/17/2009 1 1:25
Loss Paul Bradley TKO (Punches) ROC 22 Ring of Combat 22 11/21/2008 1 0:34 For Ring of Combat Middleweight Championship (Inaugural)
Loss Matt Riddle Decision (Unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale 6/21/2008 3 5:00
Win Nissim Levy TKO (Punches) IFL: 2007 Semifinals 8/02/2007 3 1:15
Win Alex Aquino Submission (Heel Hook) CFFC 5: Two Worlds, One Cage 6/23/2007 2 2:41
Loss Tim Kennedy Submission (Punches) IFL: Atlanta 2/23/2007 2 2:29
Win Erik Charles Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) CFFC 3: Battleground 1/19/2007 2 4:51
Win Eric Tavares TKO (Referee Stoppage) CITC 3: Marked Territory 9/30/2006 1 4:44 Won Combat in the Cage Light Heavyweight Championship
Loss Mike Massenzio Decision (Unanimous) RF 13: Battle at the Beach 8/05/2006 3 5:00 For Reality Fighting Middleweight Championship
Win Ronald Stallings Decision (Unanimous) RF 11: Reality Fighting 11 2/11/2006 3 N/A
Win Jerry Spiegel Submission (Triangle Choke) RF 10: Reality Fighting 10 11/19/2005 1 1:26
Win Josh Pupa Submission (Guillotine Choke) RF 9: Reality Fighting 9 8/06/2005 1 3:59
Loss Lance Everson Decision (Unanimous) RF 8: Reality Fighting 8 4/02/2005 3 5:00
Win Jose Rodriguez TKO ROC 7 Ring of Combat 7 11/20/2004 1 4:37 Won Ring of Combat Super Cruiserweight Championship
Win Jay Handley Submission (Guillotine Choke) RF 7: Reality Fighting 7 10/16/2004 1 1:00
Win Chris Scanlon Decision (Unanimous) SF 1: Bragging Rights 11/09/2002 2 5:00

== Mixed Martial Arts Career ==
Dante Rivera began competing in professional mixed martial arts in 2002. In only his third professional fight, Rivera won the Ring of Combat Light Heavyweight Championship by defeating Jose Rodriguez via TKO. He went 6-0 before facing future UFC competitor Mike Massenzio for the Reality Fighting Middleweight Championship. Rivera would suffer his first career loss, losing a unanimous decision in his title bid.

Rivera bounced back in his next bout, winning the Combat in the Cage Light Heavyweight Championship by defeating Eric Tavares via Referee Stoppage in the first round. In his next bout he submitted to punches at an IFL event to Tim Kennedy, only to bounce back once more, winning his next two bouts, one by submission, the other by TKO (Punches).

=== The Ultimate Fighter ===
Dante was then featured on the seventh season of The Ultimate Fighter. He defeated John Wood via Kimura, allowing him to make his way onto the show and into the house. In the house a young and cocky Matt Riddle started telling Dante that he couldn’t beat him. Dante tried to bet Riddle a sum of 500 dollars but Riddle would not accept the bet. Dante then said that he would retire if Riddle defeated him. Both men ended up fighting on The Ultimate FIghter 7 Finale where Riddle beat Dante with a Decision (Unanimous). Dante then said he would not retire as promised and was soon released by the UFC after the fight.

=== Post UFC ===
In Rivera’s first bout since being released by the UFC he fought one of his housemates on The Ultimate Fighter 7; Paul Bradley. The bout was to determine the Ring of Combat Middleweight Champion. At 0:34 of the first round, Bradley caught Rivera with a flurry of punches, ending the fight.

Dante then fought Lamont Lister at Ring of Combat 24, submitting his opponent via guillotine choke at 1:25 of the first round.

Rivera next faced WEC veteran Justin Haskins at another Ring of Combat event, submitting his opponent with a Rear Naked Choke at 3:51 of the second round.

In his next outing, Rivera faced Herbert Goodman for the New Breed Fighter Middleweight Championship, which he lost by Decision (Unanimous).

== Ranks and Titles ==
* Ring of Combat Light Heavyweight Champion (2004)
* Combat in the Cage Light Heavyweight Champion (2006)