Howard Doubts Wrestler Ellenberger Can Keep Him Down

John Howard file photo: Dave Mandel | Sherdog.com

Welterweight John "Doomsday" Howard is 4-0 in the Octagon going into Sunday's fight against Jake Ellenberger on the main card of UFC on Versus 2 in San Diego, Calif., but a victory won't necessarily have Howard clamoring for a title shot against champion Georges St. Pierre.

"I think I still need to get one or two more wins and then maybe go for the title," Howard recently told the Sherdog Radio Network's “Savage Dog Show.” "When somebody like Jake Shields comes in, he's doing good and I think he deserves to be right in the title mix. He's one of the best guys out there. He's got good ju-jitsu and I think he's really impressive. If he gets a shot before me, that's all well and good and if he wins, I'll fight him for the title.”

Howard believes a little more time will go a long way.

"I'm still young and learning the game. I've not mastered the sport. I feel like I'm on that level, though,” he said. “I'm not really in a rush to get a title shot. I'm beating good guys, but I also want to improve myself. I want my title shot when it's my time and I'll capitalize on the opportunity. I'm not going to rush it, though, because getting to the top of the mountain is one thing and staying there is another."

The 27-year-old Howard has stopped 10 of his opponents in 14 victories and has won seven straight fights dating back to November 2007. In his most recent fight, he scored a first-round knockout of Daniel Roberts on the undercard of the UFC on Versus 1 event in March, picking up a $50,000 "Knockout of the Night" bonus.

The win got Howard a promotion up to the main card, but he said getting the opportunity to be on Versus doesn't add any pre-fight pressure.

"I'm happy to be on the main card," said Howard. "It's awesome, but it's not any added pressure for me because I've been on live TV before. Also, when I go into the cage, I don't care about who's watching my fights. I'm just concerned with the guy across the cage from me. Whether I do good or not, the pressure's not on me."

Howard knows he'll have his hands full with Ellenberger, who has 19 finishes (including 14 knockouts) in his 22 victories. He's only 1-1 in two Octagon appearances, but the loss was a controversial split-decision setback against Carlos Condit at UFC Fight Night 19 in September 2009.

"It's going to take a hard fight (to beat Ellenberger)," said Howard. "It's going to be a hard fight. He's a guy who likes to pressure you and I'm going to need to put some pressure back on him. That's what it's going to take.

"It's not going to be an easy win here,” he added. “It's going to be a great fight. People are going to see two guys go at it hardcore."

Ellenberger is known for his wrestling and Howard concedes that while he might get taken down Sunday night, he doesn't plan on staying down for long and that Ellenberger will be paying a price for trying to take the fight to the mat.

"I expect him to take me down. He's a Division I wrestler, which is very high-caliber,” said Howard. “My strategy is to just get back up. He's going to try and ground-and-pound me, but getting taken down isn't an issue to me. I just wonder whether he can keep me down. I doubt he can, but we'll see what happens. He'll probably take me down and I'll keep getting back up. Usually they gas out when that keeps happening. He might get taken down himself, so you never know what might happen.”

When it does return to its feet, Howard said he’ll have an arsenal ready to unload on Ellenberger.

"I kick for a different reason than most MMA fighters. Most people kick to throw a combo with it, but I kick to break your leg with it,” said Howard. “I kick like a traditional muay Thai practitioner. They're taught to kick hard and to kick through the leg until it almost breaks. Even if (Ellenberger) does take me down off a kick, he's going to feel it."