• UFC 127

Rivera suffered no lasting damage reveals ref Goddard

ESPN staff
March 3, 2011
Jorge Rivera could have taken the victory by choosing not to continue after the illegal knee delivered by Michael Bisping at UFC 127 © Getty Images
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Jorge Rivera did not suffer a concussion as a result of the illegal knee delivered by Michael Bisping at UFC 127, confirmed referee Marc Goddard on Thursday.

Rivera appeared badly dazed when caught by a thunderous knee to his head while he was grounded in his TKO loss to Bisping. The American was subsequently given time to recover before being asked if he could continue, to which he replied: 'Yes'.

In the fallout of the Sydney loss, Rivera's camp have claimed he was never the same fighter after the incident, setting up a false win for Bisping. However, ref Goddard has revealed there was no lasting damage caused to Rivera.

"Jorge was taken to the hospital immediately after his fight," Goddard posted on a CageWarriors forum.

"He was released straight away after being again seen by doctors and there was no concussion incurred."

Goddard did confirm that Rivera displayed great courage to fight on after the illegal blow, although he also insisted that El Conquistador was in a good enough state to continue.

"If when Jorge was asked the question he said 'no', or I judged him as unsteady or in my experience unable to continue then the fight is waved off and he would have been awarded the win via DQ. Exactly the same steps, method and application should the foul have been the other way around would have been applied."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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