Down the Pub: Cage Rage 13 Preview
Jorge “El Conquistador” Rivera vs. Marcelo “Uirapuru” Azevedo
Pedro Wrobel Sep 8, 2005
Jorge Rivera (Pictures) (10-4) need little introduction.
Rivera has fought the best and he has been competitive, even in
defeat. Rivera is a solid, tough-to-finish fighter with excellent
wrestling and punching skills, as well as a seemingly never-ending
gas tank. Most of all, the American is experienced and canny. He
knows what he can do and, the Silva fight aside, he’s pretty good
at imposing his pace on a fight.
Marcelo Azevedo is a BJJ stylist based in Spain. His 3-3 record in MMA should not obscure the fact that he’s very good at this game. A pro debut against Renato Sobral (Pictures) would be difficult for anyone, and the undersized Azevedo should be given credit for going the distance. Since then, he has gone 3-2, with all three of his victories coming in a single night (in September 2004).
I’m going to play safe and pick Rivera here. It’s true that submissions are Rivera’s relative weak point as Lee Murray (Pictures) and Rich Franklin (Pictures) have proved, but those are elite athletes and Azevedo is giving up a lot of MMA experience here.
Azevedo will want to bring the fight to the mat but Rivera will make him pay. The American loves to attack from the clinch, a position from which he will look to land an unrelenting barrage of knees, elbows and short punches. Azevedo has proved that he is tough to finish, so I’m seeing Rivera impose his will on this one en route to a victory by decision.
Marcelo Azevedo is a BJJ stylist based in Spain. His 3-3 record in MMA should not obscure the fact that he’s very good at this game. A pro debut against Renato Sobral (Pictures) would be difficult for anyone, and the undersized Azevedo should be given credit for going the distance. Since then, he has gone 3-2, with all three of his victories coming in a single night (in September 2004).
I’m going to play safe and pick Rivera here. It’s true that submissions are Rivera’s relative weak point as Lee Murray (Pictures) and Rich Franklin (Pictures) have proved, but those are elite athletes and Azevedo is giving up a lot of MMA experience here.
Azevedo will want to bring the fight to the mat but Rivera will make him pay. The American loves to attack from the clinch, a position from which he will look to land an unrelenting barrage of knees, elbows and short punches. Azevedo has proved that he is tough to finish, so I’m seeing Rivera impose his will on this one en route to a victory by decision.
