Jerome Rivera vs. Gene Perez headlines Jackson’s MMA Series XXVII
Jackson’s MMA Series XXVII has been announced for February 23, at Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino. Flyweights will take center stage and a home town kid is in the spot light.
The main event will see Santa Fe, New Mexico’s own Jerome “The Renegade” Rivera (7-2) against Belen’s Gene “The Kid” Perez (8-10).
Rivera, 23-years-old, is on loan from Legacy Fighting Alliance and looks to halt a two-fight skid. The last time Rivera fought in New Mexico he submitted Saul Elizondo. That was February of 2017. Rivera then got the call to fight for LFA, taking a unanimous decision win over Zac Riley at LFA 10. At LFA 14, Rivera would fall short of being the inaugural LFA Flyweight champion, succumbing to a Roberto Sanchez by way of third round armbar. Now a father of a beautiful baby girl, Rivera will be returning to the cage for the first time since his elbow dislocated at LFA 39, against Brandon Royval. Rivera looks to regain the form that saw him win seven straight to start his career, four of which came by submission.
Perez, 28-years-old, is well known for his willingness to fight anyone, anytime, in any combat sports arena. Perez will look to rebound from a rear-naked choke loss at King of the Cage: Starbound 2, to Rivera’s mentor Josh Montoya.
“The Kid” is a southpaw with a sneaky straight left and more then capable of pulling off an armbar from his back. The Perez Fighting Systems founder also stays active in the Boxing world having a record of 2-15-1, with most of those fights being against the top prospects across the southwest. Perez will be in a familiar situation being the underdog. In his combat sports career the father of two has faced twenty-one opponents with one or fewer losses. Perez has alternated wins and losses over his past eight MMA bouts.
