UFC fighter Irwin Rivera has been released from custody for the first time since early 2021. The bantamweight was granted a conditional release this week after pleading not guilty by reason of insanity for two counts of attempted murder.
Details on Rivera’s recent release were revealed in court documents obtained by Marc Raimondi and Carlos Contreras Legaspi of ESPN.
Rivera was arrested in January and charged with two counts of attempted murder. An incident report filed by the Boynton Beach Police Department in Florida, USA, described that he attacked his two sisters while they were asleep, causing them to receive numerous stab wounds.
Rivera allegedly encountered police later that night, claiming that he killed his sisters after a “higher power” told him to do so.
Doctors testified in court that Rivera has bipolar disorder with psychosis, and that the incident months ago was an episode because of this. Dr. Sheila Rapa claimed that under medication recently prescribed to him, Rivera shouldn’t be a threat to the public or himself. The doctor also said there is “no problem” with Rivera competing in MMA again.
The expert said Rivera wasn’t aware of his mental health issues before the incident in January.
“He lacked the ability of insight to tell reality from fantasy or right from wrong,” said Dr. Rapa in documents.
Terms of Rivera’s release include that he must remain under his prescribed medication and receive care from a psychiatrist.
Rivera will live with his brother and parents, who will monitor him.
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