Rivera Defends Bantamweight Title At Titan FC 58

by Matt Benoliel

December 20, 2019

The South Florida MMA season ended on a high note with an intense battle for the Titan UFC bantamweight title held by Irwin “The Beast” Rivera (9-4). The challenger, previously undefeated Danny “Italian Gangster” Sabatello, is a former Division I wrestler from Perdue University. Sabatello, training out of the famed American Top Team in Coconut Creek, FL, has finished four of his previous opponents in the first round and enjoyed a slight height advantage over Rivera.

Sabatello’s wrestling was clearly on display in the first round. The Italian Gangster scored takedowns with ease but also often seemed to end up in Rivera’s guard.

The striking game belonged to The Beast. Rivera has been working with the famed Cuban boxing trainer Jorge Rubio, and showed us some head movement and defense not usually seen at this level. Aside from skillful boxing, Rivera scored a flying knee early in the fight that cut Sabatello and later on was also able to punish Sabatello with leg and body kicks. These kicks seemed to slow Sabatello down in the later rounds and The Beast ultimately won by TKO ground and pound in round four.