Titan FC bantamweight champion Irwin “The Beast” Rivera (8-4) finds every challenge in life as a plus.
Rivera will defend his title against the undefeated challenger Danny Sabatello (6-0) at Titan FC 58 this Friday at the Xtreme Action Park in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The event airs live on UFC Fight Pass. Tickets are on sale.
The Roman Show spoke to him days before his fight. He said he is feeling amped for his first title defense. He defeated Matt Wagy earlier this year to become interim bantamweight champion. He became champion after former current holder Rudson Caliocane suffered a stroke when he was weight cutting for a fight in Brazil. A gofund me page has been created to help pay for his medicals.
“I feel great. am fighting a little bit of a bug these things happen during fight camp. These things happen. Fighters work so hard and you get caught up with something,” she said. “I look at these challenges as to welcome challenges because I have dealt with them. I look forward to it. It’s an indication that things are going the way they are supposed to.”
Rivera said Sabatello is puzzling fighter.
“He is a little bit of a wild card,” he said. “I studied him. There’s not much to work with. Not much out there. Most of his fights are the ground. He is a confident fighter.”
He said there are similarities to his former foe in Wagy.
Photo Credit Titan FC
“Absolutely, (there are similarities),” he said. ” There is similarity, but he’s a different fighter and has a different body type of as well. Matt Wagy was about 5’7 or 5’8. Sabatello is about 5’10. A lot of factors play into this game. Ultimately, he is a wrestler and (that’s) where his strength is. We have to make him feel uncomfortable. What I like about Daniel is that he comes forward.”
He also talks about potentially moving up to one of the other promotions such as UFC, Bellator or ONE FC, training with UFC hall of famer Rashad Evans and more.
