Carson City’s own Alex Rivera — pictured in the sombrero right before being announced as the victor— made an electrifying MMA debut at the World Fighting Championship held at Bally’s Casino this past Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.
Facing a formidable opponent in accomplished grappler Adolfo De La Cruz from Sacramento, Rivera showcased resilience, power, and determination to secure a unanimous decision victory.
Rivera, a rising star with an undefeated record of 4-0 in point Muay Thai and 10-0 in grappling competitions, trains out of Wild West Training Center in Carson City, Nevada. The gym, known for cultivating top-tier talent, is home to IKF Muay Thai Champion Zephery “The Smiling Assassin” Foster, his undefeated brother Zenon Foster (4-0), and Michael Rodriguez, the #1 ranked point Muay Thai fighter in his weight class for 2023.
The fight opened with Rivera delivering a powerful punch that sent De La Cruz crashing to the canvas early in the first round. However, the experienced grappler quickly recovered, securing a takedown by locking onto Rivera’s ankle. In a tense ground exchange, Rivera battled his way back to his feet, finishing the round standing tall.
The second and third rounds saw De La Cruz persistently hunting for takedowns, but Rivera’s striking proved too overwhelming. His punching power repeatedly sent De La Cruz to the mat, keeping the pressure high and the crowd on edge. Despite De La Cruz’s grappling pedigree, Rivera’s determination and explosive striking earned him the unanimous decision victory.
“I knew it would be a tough fight, but I trusted my training and my team,” Rivera said after the match. “This is just the beginning.”
With this impressive debut, Alex “The New Era” Rivera has firmly established himself as a fighter to watch in the MMA world. Fans eagerly await his next bout, confident that his fighting journey is only just beginning.
