UFC veteran Jimmie Rivera vs. ex-Bellator champ Daniel Straus to co-headline BKFC 61

What could be a certified banger between a UFC veteran and former Bellator champion is set to co-headline BKFC 61.

The promotion announced Monday that Jimmie Rivera vs. Daniel Straus will go down May 11 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The featherweight bout will serve as the BKFC 61 co-main event to the headliner between Heather Hardy and Christine Ferea for the “Queen of Violence” crown.

Since exiting the UFC in early 2021, Rivera, 34, has gone 1-1-1 in three BKFC appearances. He most recently lost by third-round TKO to fellow UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens last December at BKFC 56.

Straus, 39, is a former two-time Bellator featherweight champ. He’s made one previous bareknuckle appearance, losing by unanimous decision to Dat Nguyen in April 2023 at BKFC 38.