The “Loser Leaves Town” match was a popular bout in professional wrestling. It means a little more in the world of mixed martial arts, where the outcome isn’t scripted.
It’s the type of bout that Reuben Duran and Francisco Rivera may find themselves in at “The Ultimate Fighter Season 13 Finale” on June 4 in Las Vegas.
Each fighter is one bout in under the Zuffa umbrella, but each is also coming off a loss.
Duran fought little more than a week ago at UFC on Versus 3 in Louisville, Ky. He took Takeya Mizugaki to the final bell, but dropped a split decision to the tough Japanese fighter. The loss interrupted a four-fight winning streak for the 7-3-1 King of the Cage veteran.
Rivera entered WEC 52 with an unblemished record in five tries. Erik Koch, one of the hottest featherweight prospects in the sport, handed him his first taste of defeat. Koch took Rivera out by TKO in the opening minutes of the first round, spoiling his big time debut.
Both fighters are searching for that all-important first win in the Octagon, trying to keep a spot in the UFC featherweight division.
The TUF 13 finale features the Season 13 finals, as well as former WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis’ UFC debut, as he takes on fan favorite Clay Guida.