User blog comment:IamJakuhoRaikoben/Mirajane & Lisanna vs. Azuma (anime)/@comment-5782519-20111119051629/@comment-3290324-20111120213050

Mashima just doesn't give much merit to any characters besides Team Natsu. He'll give them a decent fight, maybe two and then they'll ride the sidelines. No side character has yet to escape that cycle.