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Jimmie Rivera vs. Bryan Caraway likely for UFC Fight Night in Phoenix

Published Dec. 9, 2016 1:26 p.m. ET

Damon Martin

A long rumored matchup between top 10 ranked bantamweights Jimmie Rivera and Bryan Caraway is close to reality for the upcoming UFC Fight Night card in Phoenix on Jan. 15.

Sources close to the contest confirmed the news to FOX Sports on Tuesday following an initial report from MMAOddsbreaker.com. UFC officials have not announced the matchup as of yet.

Rivera and Caraway had both agreed to the matchup several weeks ago but it was just a matter of finding the right card where the bantamweights would meet.

Caraway hoped to get one more fight in during 2016, but ultimately it appears his request was denied with the bout against Rivera now expected for early 2017 instead.

Caraway will look to build on his last victory where he handed top prospect Aljamain Sterling his first loss while Rivera is coming off a very impressive win over former WEC champion Urijah Faber at UFC 203 in September.

Rivera vs. Caraway is the latest fight expected to be added to the UFC Fight Night card in Phoenix headlined by former two division champion B.J. Penn who faces upstart contender Yair Rodriguez in the main event.

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