Dave Jansen earned his Bellator title shot earlier this year when he defeated Marcin Held in the season seven final and will challenge Michael Chandler for the lightweight title in the main event of Bellator 97 on June 19th in Oklahoma.
Jansen (19-2) will walk into the Bellator cage on that night as the underdog and not many people outside of his fight team, friends, and family will be picking him to win the fight.
While some people may like being in the underdog role, Jansen is not one of those people. However, he does know being an underdog will take off some of the pressure.
“I don’t like it, I can not say I like it,” Jansen told TheMMAReport.com. “It does take the pressure of a bit. By no means is it going to be an easy fight if he does manage to win. I am just going to go out there and fight my fight and definitely look to put him away. I know he is not going to quit or give up easily but I have to fight my fight.”
In his last fight against Held, Jansen had to worry about the ground game of his opponent and the various leg lock submissions. However, this will be a different fight as Chandler has a wrestling background and has shown improvements in his stand up game. Jansen knows that Chandler is going to come straight at him and he will have to fight his fight.
“It’s going to be a straight forward fight. He is good at everything but one thing I can anticipate is he is going to step right up and be in my face. That is not a bad spot and allows me to work my game rather than to chase somebody. I think we match up well and its going to come down to the later rounds, who has more in the tank.”
Jansen has been in his training camp for this fight for a couple of weeks and has already visualized how he will be able to defeat Chandler. He could see himself in several different ways and feels his opportunities could come late in the fight.
“I see myself grabbing up some chokes, rattle up come combos and there is a good chance I can win it striking and grappling or a combination of both. I have techniques that I think will work. Chandler is a wrestler and puts himself in comprising postions just like anyone else. I just have to capitalize on those opportunities but I think it’s going to have to come later in the fight when he slows down a bit.”
Chandler is a former college wrestler and Bellator MMA Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney has raved about the improvement in his striking game. Jansen has ten submission victories in his career and Chandler could look to stand with him.
“I think he kind of fallen in love with his standup a bit and I could see that being their game plan but he could shoot right away. I’ll be ready for anything.”