In the main event of the Myrtle Beach-based card, UFC alum Francisco Rivera Jr. faced former Bellator MMA standout Ricky Bandejas in a bantamweight bout. Last seen in action under the Eagle FC banner, Bandejas was looking to bounce back from a loss to Ray Borg, while Rivera was 1-2 in his last three fights, including a loss to John Dodson at XMMA 4.

Also in action on Wednesday, Mandel “Rat Garbage” Nallo, a TriStar athlete and former Bellator standout, took on Jorge Daniel La Terra. UFC vets collided when Teruto Ishihara went up against Vince Morales, and Saidyokub Kakhramonov saw his first action since a rather surprising UFC release, against Rafael Costa.

Update, 7:25PM ET: Kakhramonov vs. Costa is your co-main event at XMMA 6

XMMA 6: Bash at the Beach takes place on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at the John T. Rhodes Myrtle Beach Sports Center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Full results from the event, plus a live stream of the action, can be found below.

XMMA 6: Bash at the Beach Results

Main Card

Francisco Rivera Jr. vs. Ricky Bandejas ends in a No Contest (Accidental Eye Poke), Round 2, 0:58
Saidyokub Kakhramonov def. Rafael Costa by submission (arm-triangle choke), Round 1, 0:55
Vince Morales def. Teruto Ishihara by submission (D’arce choke), Round 2, 1:17
Justin Scoggins def. Josh Smith by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 2:21
Mitch Ramirez def. Jeremie Holloway by TKO (verbal submission), Round 2, 0:59

Preliminary Card

Mandel Nallo def. Jorge Daniel La Terra by knockout, Round 1, 2:09
Jesse Roberts def. Ronald Girones Sago by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Brian Mitchell def. Charleston Pou by TKO (strikes), Round 2, 2:34
Francesco Lepore def. Josh Baker by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 1:40
Brendan Hyde def. Jesus Diaz by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)

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That made for some interesting match-ups, and the possibility of a number of redemption stories.

Topping the event was two-time UFC flyweight title challenger John Dodson, looking to snap a two-fight skid against fellow UFC alum Francisco Rivera in a bantamweight match-up. Rivera, who had last competed in the octagon in 2016, had returned to action last year, going 2-1 in 2021.

The co-feature saw Bellator, UFC, and PFL vet Curtis Millender in action against Jared “Nite Train” Gooden, fresh off a win at iKon FC 1 over Aaron Highbaugh.

Zak Ottow, meanwhile, was looking for his fourth straight win since parting ways with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, against Kyle Stewart — with the explicit goal of returning to the big show with a big finish.

Be sure to check out our exclusive interview with Zak Ottow ahead of this one.

XMMA 4: Black Magic goes down Saturday, April 2, 2022 at The Fillmore in New Orleans, Louisiana. The card airs live exclusively on Fight Network, with the broadcast getting underway at 7PM ET. Full results from the event can be found below.

XMMA 4: Black Magic Results

Main Card

John Dodson def. Francisco Rivera Jr. by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Jared Gooden def. Curtis Millender by TKO, Round 2, 0:16
Kyle Bochniak def. Carlton Minus by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Ange Loosa def. John Howard by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Kyle Stewart def. Zak Ottow by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)

Preliminary Card

John Sweeney def. Cole Smith by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
Sasha Palatnikov def. Kyron Bowen by TKO (ground n’ pound), Round 1, 4:03
Westin Wilson def. Tyrek Malveaux by submission (side choke), Round 1, 1:59
Louie Sanoudakis def. Tateki Matsuda by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Adli Edwards def. Josh Harvey by submission (arm-triangle choke), Round 1, 4:45
Andrew Garrette def. Justin Mead by TKO, Round 1, 1:36

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In a press release Friday, the U.S. Anti-Doping agency announced that UFC bantamweight Francisco Rivera has been handed a four year suspension. That’s the harshest penalty possible, and follows not only a failed drug test for anabolic agent clenbuterol, but also potentially falsified evidence submitted by the athlete. As a result, the maximum punishment was dished out.

In Friday’s release, the organization stated that:

After a thorough investigation into the circumstances of Rivera’s case, USADA concluded that the clenbuterol levels detected in his sample were inconsistent with what could be expected from meat contamination. Furthermore, Rivera was unable to provide independently verifiable evidence to support his claim that he had traveled to Northern Mexico and ingested meat in the days leading up to the relevant sample collection. Thereafter, Rivera opted to have his case submitted to a neutral arbitrator for resolution.

In advance of the arbitration hearing, USADA’s ongoing investigation revealed that several pieces of evidence presented by Rivera to USADA and the arbitrator had been falsified to support the athlete’s claims that the substance had originated from contaminated meat in Mexico.

Under the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, deceitful or obstructive conduct intended to avoid the detection or adjudication of an anti-doping policy violation may be regarded as aggravating circumstances, which can lead to an increased period of ineligibility. In this case, the independent arbitrator concluded that Rivera’s conduct warranted an increase from the standard two-year period of ineligibility for a first offense, to the maximum four-year period of ineligibility due to aggravating circumstances.

Rivera, 36, is 11-7 as a pro. He lost his last three fights with the UFC, the most recent coming at UFC 201 in 2016. That decision loss to Erik Perez followed losses to John Lineker and Brad Pickett. Overall, after joining the promotion in 2012, he went 4-5 (1NC) in the UFC.

Even with the suspension backdated to August 17, 2016 when he was provisionally suspended, this could easily spell the end of Rivera’s career.

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