One of the sisters stabbed by UFC fighter Irwin Rivera said Friday that her brother did not behave like him in the days leading up to Thursday’s incident.
Rivera’s sisters, Lezlye and Kelly, remain hospitalized, but in stable condition, the fighter’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, told ESPN.
Earlier on Friday, in a Facebook post, Lezlye wrote that Rivera had not slept, did not speak as he normally would, and had completely lost interest in MMA training, which he “lives to do.” Lezlye said he flew to visit Rivera, Florida, because of his bizarre behavior.
“Unfortunately, his mental state was worse than I could have been [have] he imagined and before we could help him he broke completely, “Lezlye wrote.
“His mentality has been completely corrupted into something unrecognizable.”
According to a report from the incident at the Boynton Beach Police Department obtained by ESPN, Rivera, who was arrested on Thursday, admitted that he tried to kill his two sisters by stabbing them with a knife in the early hours of the morning. Rivera said the report said killing his sisters was his goal, which he was told was “by a higher power.”
Rivera made his first court appearance Friday morning and is now being held in a behavioral health unit after the court granted an emergency move, according to online records. He has been charged with two counts of attempted murder and is being held unrelated.
Abdelaziz said Rivera was “very respectful” and a favorite of his Dominance MMA management team. He called Rivera’s actions unusual and, like Rivera’s sisters, wants the fighter to receive medical care.
“His sisters support him 100%,” Abdelaziz told ESPN. “They said, ‘My brother is a good, beautiful human being and he needs help.’ They said it wasn’t him. “
In the Facebook post, Lezlye wrote that she and her family “want” [Rivera] to get the professional mental help he so desperately needs. “
Rivera’s mother, Susana Campos, told the Mexican publication Milenio that her son “lost his memory and took something bad a few days ago. His mind was blocked. He was not himself. “
Rivera, originally from Mexico, 31 years old and resident in Florida, made his UFC debut in May last year and won 1-2 in 2020. He is a former Titan FC bantamweight champion.
In a statement on Thursday, the UFC said it was investigating the “extremely disturbing” situation and would not give Rivera a fight at this time.