Roller Eager to Match Ground Game Against Tavares

---

Thiago Tavares is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, but Shane Roller says he wants to see just how good his ground game is when they meet Thursday at “UFC Live 3.”

“I think he wants it on the ground probably,” Roller said recently on the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown” show. “That’s where I want it eventually, so I think it’s going to be a battle on the ground at some point. It’s all about fighting for that dominant position. It’s going to be fun to go against a guy with his caliber of grappling skills and see where I rank. I’m definitely not scared to take it to the ground.”

Roller was a three-time All-American wrestler at Oklahoma State University. He’s also picked up submissions quickly, scoring three wins via rear-naked choke and three via guillotine. He’s not the type of wrestler content to sit in the guard.

“I don’t think anybody can be comfortable in anybody’s guard because that’s a dangerous position,” Roller said. “I’m always going to be looking to pass and get to a more dominant position in half guard or pass to side mount or mount, back. If you just sit in someone’s guard, then they can finish the fight anytime.”

In fact, Roller suffered the only submission loss of his career in the guard. With just nine seconds remaining in an August 2010 WEC bout against Anthony Pettis, Roller tapped to a triangle choke.

“Looking back, I wish I would have stood with him a little bit more,” Roller said of the defeat. “I felt I was getting the better of him on my feet and I just kind of pushed trying really to take it down to the ground. It just wasn’t there that night. I wasn’t feeling it. I should have just believed in my standup and tried a different approach.”

Win or lose, Roller’s fights are usually entertaining. He has gone the distance just once while winning nine of 12 fights.

“I want to finish fights,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s with a submission or if I rock someone on my feet. If I see blood, I’m trying to go for the kill. I want to end fights. That’s what fans enjoy. Honestly, that’s what gets me hyped up. Finishing a fight, it’s just like … when I’d pin someone in wrestling. It’s the same thing.”

That will be Roller’s aim against Tavares: put him away, even if that means engaging a world-class grappler on the ground.

“He’s very dangerous on the ground,” Roller said, “and it’s going to be fun to see how I match up with him.”

Listen to the full interview (beginning at 1:14:10) with Roller.