User blog comment:B214/Azazel Cup discussion center/@comment-1359322-20170223020139/@comment-31137559-20170223022730

I think it will be Riser vs Tobio. We got to pit different people against each other. Just a match-up between people you thought you never see fight. Well how about Issei vs Ruval Phenex or Issei vs Rudiger Rosenkreutz? Issei vs Rias just seems to far-fetched. And also considering that Arthur said he would fight Kiba when Issei and Vali fought. So I could see it as more like Issei Team vs Vali Team. Issei, Rias, Kiba, and Koneko vs Vali, Bikou, Arthur, and Kuroka. And if you want to include Fenrir and Gogmagog, then Issei can also have Bova and Ouryuu Nakiri on his team. Vali did say that he wanted to fight against Issei and his team. A team, not a peerage. That's why I think the idea of Rias vs Vali is far-fetched. Now Issei vs Rias I could see, but only in the final 16, not in the qualifying rounds.