Jimmie Rivera says ‘p—y’ Cody Garbrandt tries to avoid fights

Jimmie Rivera has a bone to pick with Cody Garbrandt.

Jimmie Rivera hopes a win over Aljamain Sterling at UFC Phoenix earns him a top five opponent, namely Cody Garbrandt.

Rivera has been linked to Sterling, Garbrandt, and Dominick Cruz in the past. When asked which of those three fights appeals to him the most, he confidently told Bloody Elbow, “Cody.”

“He’s a p—-y. He’s soft,” Rivera exclaimed. “At the end of the day he is trying to pick and choose his battles.” The fifth-ranked bantamweight argued fighters get “such a hard time about taking layoffs and not fighting,” but suggested Garbrandt has received preferential treatment.

You can bet Rivera will rooting for Pedro Munhoz when the latter fights Garbrandt at UFC 235.

“I hope he wins and takes his spot. Pedro is a hardworking dude and he’s tough as nails. I’m looking forward to watching them fight.”

Another person Rivera has had problems with is his UFC Phoenix opponent Sterling. Rivera, 29, insists the feud is one-sided.

“There is really no beef. He says there is beef,” Rivera said. “Before I got into the UFC he was a top prospect and I wanted to fight him... He didn’t want to fight me [on the regionals]... I tried to fight him a couple of time [in the UFC] and he still said no.

“It’s funny how it goes from his saying all this stuff to me being ranked above him and doing better,” Rivera continued. “I think he’s had a lot to lose in the past... He didn’t want to lose his spot. He knows that I’m a tough opponent.”

One person he has no interest in fighting is former bantamweight kingpin Cruz. “I would never call out Cruz ever again,” he promised. “God knows if he is going to show up to the fight. It sucks to be injured, but he’s always injured. One after the other.”

Rivera is frustrated with UFC’s matchmaking and hopes a win over Sterling secures him another top five opponent. He argued since he recently defended his ranking against John Dodson, Rivera deserves an opponent ranked above him.

UFC Phoenix takes place on Sunday, Feb. 17. Francis Ngannou meets Cain Velasquez in the main event and James Vick and Paul Felder knuckle up in the co-main. The main card also boasts the debuting Kron Gracie vs. Alex Caceres. Keep up with Bloody Elbow on Sunday for live updates and highlights from all the action.