UFC fighter Irwin Rivera was arrested on Thursday on the basis of two assassination attempts, according to an incident report obtained by ESPN.
He was booked just after noon ET after being detained by the Boynton Beach Police Department and being held without bail, according to online prison records.
Boynton Beach Police Department spokesman Stephanie Slater told ESPN that Rivera is being accused of stabbing his two sisters.
Police officers from Boynton Beach found two women – one aged 22 and the other 33 – with multiple stab wounds after being called to a home, according to the incident report. The younger woman had wounds on her back, head and arm. The elder had wounds on her back, face, arms and hands. Both were alive and were rushed to hospital.
One of the sisters told police they were staying with their brother Rivera in one of his guest rooms, and they woke up when Rivera stabbed them repeatedly with a knife, the report said.
Rivera fled the scene. Police contacted him about 7 a.m. ET on Thursday morning and, according to the report, Rivera said, “I killed my sisters.” According to the report, Rivera told police that he entered his sister’s bedroom while they slept and stabbed them with a “brass knuckle”. Rivera told police he believed he murdered his sisters and he did it because it was his target, told him by a “higher power.”
In a statement, the UFC said it is investigating the “extremely troubling” situation and would not offer Rivera a fight at this time.
“UFC is aware of the recent incident involving Irwin Rivera and subsequently received information from its management that he is exhibiting behavior consistent with mental health problems,” the UFC statement said. The allegations are extremely disturbing and the organization is currently collecting additional information. The investigation is underway and any next steps, including disciplinary action or medical assistance, will be determined based on the conclusion. that he won’t be offered a fight right now. “
Rivera, 31, last fought at UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley on September 19 and lost a split decision to Andre Ewell. Rivera made his UFC debut in May and took his first UFC win in August, beating Ali AlQaisi. Rivera is the former Titan FC Bantamweight Champion.