(Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story stated Rivera was facing first-degree murder charges. It was based on erroneous information in the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office online arrest records. The currently published story is from the Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Network.)
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – An MMA fighter was arrested on attempted murder charges after Boynton Beach police say he stabbed both of his sisters multiple times Thursday.
Irwin Rivera, 31, is charged with two counts of attempted murder and is being held without bond until he sees a judge Friday at his first appearance in court.
At about 3 a.m. Thursday, Boynton Beach police were called to the 500 block of Southeast 20th Avenue, off Federal Highway south of Woolbright Road. They found a 22-year-old woman near the road covered in blood.
She told them her brother, Rivera, had stabbed her and her sister inside the residence. Officers found the 33-year-old sister also covered in blood.
Both sisters were taken to Delray Beach Medical Center to treat several stab wounds on their heads, backs, arms, faces and hands. Police say the younger sister had two collapsed lungs.
The 33-year-old sister told police they were visiting their brother and sleeping in his spare bedroom when they awoke to him stabbing them. The older sister said she eventually was able to fight him off and push him out of the room as her other sister fled.
A neighbor told police they woke up to the sound of banging on their door and a woman screaming, “He’s trying to kill me! Please help my sister!”
The neighbor opened the door and saw the bloodied woman and then Rivera. The 31-year-old mixed martial arts fighter reportedly told the neighbor to shut the door and that everything was OK.
Witnesses then saw Rivera on his phone running down Federal Highway.
About four hours later, Delray Beach police came in contact with Rivera and he told them he killed his sisters. Once taken to Boynton Beach for police to interview him and get him out of his bloodied clothes, officers say he told them he stabbed his sisters with a brass-knuckles knife.
“(Rivera) believed he killed both of his sisters and said that he did so because it was his purpose, which he was told to by a higher power,” the report said.
It’s unclear from the report or any past records if Rivera has sought treatment for mental health.
In a statement provided to MMA Fighting, the UFC said it was aware of the situation after Rivera’s management, Dominance MMA, made promotion officials aware of potential “mental health issues.”
“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 read. “The allegations are extremely troubling, and the organization is currently gathering additional information. The investigation is ongoing and any potential next steps, including disciplinary action or medical attention, will be determined upon the conclusion. Furthermore, UFC has informed Rivera’s management that he will not be offered a bout at this time.”
Rivera, who made his UFC debut last year and went 1-2 with the promotion, most recently dropped a split decision to Andre Ewell this past September at UFC Fight Night 178.
Police: UFC’s Irwin Rivera stabbed sisters, said ‘higher power’ told him to