A Florida mixed martial arts fighter known as “The Beast” faces attempted murder charges after police said he viciously stabbed his two sisters as they spent the night in one of his spare bedrooms.
Irwin Rivera, 31, who competes on the Ultimate Fighting Championship circuit, was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail, where he faces two counts of premeditated attempted murder, according to reports.
Rivera reportedly told authorities that a “higher power” told him to commit the knife attack, which occurred overnight Thursday at Rivera’s apartment in Boynton Beach.
Several neighbors and one of the victims called police to the scene. When officers arrived, they found a 22-year-old woman next to the road, covered in blood from multiple wounds to her back, head and arms, police said.
She told police that her brother was responsible for attack and that her sister was also wounded.
Inside Rivera’s residence, police said they found a 33-year-old woman also wounded, and rushed her to Delray Medical Center with two collapsed lungs.
Police did not reveal the identities of the victims.
The younger woman was listed in stable condition Friday, while the older woman remained critical, the Boynton Beach Police department said.
An arrest report states that the women went to bed and were awakened as Rivera repeatedly stabbed them with a brass knuckle knife.
The 22-year-old victim told police she fought back, managed to escape the attacker and run outside, where she banged on a neighbor’s door for help.
“He’s trying to kill me! Please help my sister,” the arrest report said the woman screamed. Once the neighbors emerged, they saw Rivera walking by covered in blood, the report said.
“Shut the door,” Rivera shouted at them, according to the report. He then shouted again that “everything is okay.”
Next, the report says Rivera ran from the scene when he realized that neighbors had called authorities, the report said.
Delray Beach Police took Rivera into custody around 7 a.m. the same morning, the report said. “I killed my sisters,” he admitted in a statement, according to police.
He told investigators he carried out the attack because a “higher power” told him it was “his purpose,” the report said.
UFC officials released a statement to MMA Weekly, a digital publication that covers the profession.
Credit: Social media photo via Twitter
Credit: Social media photo via Twitter
“UFC is aware of the recent incident involving Irwin Rivera and subsequently received information from his management that he has been exhibiting behavior consistent with mental health issues,” the statement said. The statement said Rivera’s career is on hold pending an investigation.
Rivera is the former Titan FC bantamweight champion and made his UFC debut last May, according to ESPN.
Rivera beat Ali AlQaisi in August to earn his first UFC victory. The following month, on Sept. 19, he lost a split decision to Andre Ewell, which was the last time he fought on UFC Fight Night.
About the Author
