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UTICA, N.Y. – UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw is none too happy about facing Cody Garbrandt less than one year after ending their feud with a knockout victory.

But for Jimmie Rivera, at least there’s a bit of clarity on its way when it comes to his standing in the division.

Rivera, who meets Marlon Moraes in the FS1-televised headliner of UFC Fight Night 131, thought he might be able to slide in to a title shot when Dillashaw knocked out Garbrandt last November. With five UFC wins and a 20-fight winning streak, he figured he had a good case.

Then Dillashaw started pushing for a showdown with flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson. Rivera knew he’d have to take a backseat and wait his turn. Heck, he even wanted to see the fight himself.

But after Johnson and the UFC failed to come to terms on a deal to make the superfight happen, opportunity was suddenly on the horizon. The promotion pivoted toward a rematch between Dillashaw and Garbrandt, and Rivera figured he was back on deck.

“Every fight and MMA fan and fighter wants to see that fight (between Dillashaw and Johnson), but right now, I’m very happy that it’s Cody and T.J. fighting,” Rivera told reporters at a media day in support of his fight with Moraes on Friday at Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, N.Y. “So this way, it clears everything out, and this ends up looking like a No. 1 contender fight. So now the winner of this and the winner of that can go head to head.”

Whether the UFC agrees remains to be seen. Johnson could always come back into the picture, or the winner of Dillashaw vs. Garbrandt 2, set for August at UFC 227, could get injured.

But right now, it’s looking good for Rivera, who thinks he’ll face the current champ if everything goes as planned.

“I think T.J.’s going to win it,” Rivera said. “If I get this win and that title shot next, I don’t care who it is I fight, as long as it’s for the belt. That’s all that matters to me.”

To hear more from Rivera, including his thoughts on the Moraes matchup, watch the video above.

And for more on UFC Fight Night 131, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.