The lighter weight classes have come a long way in the last few years, but seem to still have an arduous journey ahead. Just this past Saturday night, a Fox executive was caught on camera flipping the channel to The Big Bang Theory in the middle of the Demetrious Johnson vs. John Dodson fight. Personally, I am a big fan of the lighter weight classes, because you can really see some fantastic battles in those divisions.

With UFC 156 comes a featherweight headliner and a couple other well matched fights in both the bantam and flyweight divisions. The question is, how does the UFC garner more attention for the little guys? Bantamweight contender, Francisco Rivera thinks it comes with knockout performances, or at the very least, fight of the night performances. In a recent interview, Rivera discussed his disappointment with the lack of recognition the lighter weight classes have been receiving.

I thought I'd proven myself with my last two fights and would get off the Facebook card, but it is what it is. I'm not overly worried about it right now. I just have to go in there and get the win, really prove that I should be on the TV prelims or main card. Hopefully, it's a good enough fight and a quick enough finish to get me on a main card next time out.

A lot of the top guys say more and want more, as opposed to us up and comers that just want to fight and get noticed. Hopefully, if I keep winning, everything else will fall into place. To be in the position Rampage is in ... I would love to be in that position. It would be a dream for me. I would accept that kind of wealth and be humble about most things in life. You know, growing up where we come from, you would think he would be more humble and accepting of what has come to him in a positive way. For the little guys to get paid, it's gonna have to be some kind of crazy knockout or submission in every fight. That's what I think they want, but few are really doing it.

Despite a ferocious knockout of Roland Delorme at UFC 149, the win was overturned to a No Contest , due to Rivera testing positive for a banned substance. Here's what he had to say on the subject:

I don't have the type of money where I can afford a nutritionist or hire somebody to watch over me like that. I've got to go and get everything myself. It sucks that I got popped for an over the counter pre-workout supplement that was pretty much a caffeine load, but it was my mistake, and it is what it is. I know I'd beat Roland 10 out of 10 times. In my eyes, that fight is still a win, but if he wants to fight me again, I'll do it anytime, no problem.

You can follow Cisco via his Twitter account, @CiscoRiveraUFC

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