SIXTH SENSE

Jimmie has champ’s number

JIMMIE RIVERA aims to move into title contention by making it six of the best this weekend.

He meets Marlon Moraes in a top-of-the-bill contest at UFC Fight Night 131 in New York in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Rivera is looking for his sixth successive victory and believes that a win should make him No.1 contender for TJ Dillashaw’s bantamweight belt.

He’s ranked No.4 and said: “When I go in there and beat Marlon, it’s six fights in a row that I’ve won in the UFC.

“In my mind, when that happens there’s absolutely no question that I deserve a title shot.

“I think it really comes down to putting on a good show, getting a No.1 contender for the belt.”

The 28-year-old American has certainly made a big impression since making his UFC debut with a first-round KO of Marcus Brimage in July 2015.

He then knocked out Pedro Munhoz before scoring unanimous points wins over Iuri Alcantara, Urijah Faber and Thomas Almeida.

Now he faces 30-year-old former WSOF champion Moraes, who goes into the bout on the back of two wins on the bounce.

Victories over John Dodson (points) and Aljamain Sterling (KO) have taken him to No.5 in the rankings.

That move towards the title picture followed a UFC debut in which he suffered a narrow points loss to Raphael Assuncao. But, for now at least, Brazilian Moraes isn’t thinking about a title challenge, saying: “It’s not even on my mind. “I don’t want to keep dreaming something that I’ve still got to work for. I’ve just got to get the victory and solidify myself as one of the best in the division.

“I aim to get to work and do it in the cage against Rivera.

“I feel confident and I’m 100 per cent sure I will deliver my best performance against him.”