Mar-15-2010

Daniel Roberts – Jumping into the Welterweight Fray this Sunday

By Thomas Gerbasi

The walk into the Octagon. For some, the trek up those final four steps presents ample time to panic; for others, it’s a signal that it’s time to perform. For Daniel 'Ninja' Roberts, it’s when he flips the switch from nice guy to fighter, and by the time he steps through the doorway, he’s not walking into competition – he’s jumping in.

With both feet. Literally.

“That jump is like everything to me,” said Tulsa’s Roberts of his unique entrance, which he will show off to UFC fans for the first time this Sunday when he debuts against John Howard. “It changes my whole mindset. I’m usually a laid-back guy, and a lot of people that know me actually can’t believe I cage fight, but when I do that big jump, I transform. I feel it all through my body, and I just feel invincible. I’m focused on destroying my opponent as fast as possible, and I’m like a different person.”

That different person is the one who has put together a spotless pro MMA record of 9-0, with seven of those wins coming by way of submission. It was enough for him to get noticed by the UFC, which called him into action against Howard when ‘Doomsday’s original opponent, Anthony Johnson, was forced to withdraw from the Colorado bout due to injury. Roberts’ reaction was typical of those prospects just waiting for their shot in the big show – no questions about opponent, time to get ready, or where they’re fighting – just a big yes.

“I didn’t even care who it was,” smiles Roberts. “As soon as my manager (Jason Nicholson) said he had something for me, I was like ‘yeah, I’ll fight.’ I didn’t care who it was and I didn’t even think about it at all.

Luckily, Roberts, who was coming off a submission (via strikes) victory over UFC vet Anthony Macias in January, was already back in the gym when the call came, and it wasn’t back home in Tulsa, but in the Bay Area with MMA standouts Gilbert Melendez, Jake Shields, and Nate and Nick Diaz.

“I was out here and I got the call, and it worked out perfectly because I was already getting good training in when I got the call. I just had to pick up my cardio.”

As for the move out west, he said, “In Oklahoma, I couldn’t find that many people on my level as far as grappling and I knew that there were a lot of good grapplers out here, so I had to come out here. I want to be the best, so I’ve got to train with the best.”

It’s safe to say that those guys in the Bay Area can grapple a bit, and they’re sure to elevate Roberts’ game even more, which makes him a tough out for anyone he’s in the Octagon with. Yet unlike many successful college wrestlers (Roberts was a 2004 NAIA All-American for Bacone College), Roberts’ first MMA love isn’t striking, but jiu-jitsu.

“I think the fact that I started jiu-jitsu and wrestling at the same time is a little different than most,” said Roberts. “I think if I just wrestled, then I would probably want to punch more (laughs), but I know jiu-jitsu very well. I’m looking to end the fight – punching, you can end it as well, but with a good submission locked up, it’s guaranteed.”

That philosophy has carried Roberts throughout his pro MMA career, which began in 2007 with a split decision win over Brandon Gaines. He’s only gone the distance once since then, submitting the rest of his foes with his punches or his jiu-jitsu game.

“A lot of wrestlers aren’t comfortable on their backs, but I’m extremely comfortable on my back,” he said. “I can work well from the guard, I can work on top, and I can go for submissions from every position. Plus I’m a really good wrestler, so there’s not gonna be a lot of guys I can’t take down. But if I can’t, I’ll even pull guard – that’s how comfortable I am on the ground.”

He will need to be ready for anything on Sunday against Howard, a fighter unbeaten in three UFC starts who has shown an uncanny ability to find a way to win in whatever situation he’s placed in. Most recently, Howard roared back from a points deficit to knock out veteran Dennis Hallman with five seconds left, but Roberts isn’t nervous about the matchup with the New England prospect.

“I have to say that if I were to pick my opponent for the UFC, it probably would be him,” he said. “Not to say that he’s a bad guy or an easy win - the fact that he’s 3-0 in the UFC is actually a good thing. I checked him out, I saw what he has, and I definitely feel like my grappling is way ahead of his, as far as my wrestling. He does have some power, but my standup is pretty good as well, so we match up well.”

But what about keeping on point focus-wise for every second of a 15 minute fight, knowing that one lost second could be the one opening Howard needs to turn everything in his favor?

“I’m not really too worried about that,” said Roberts. “I’m a real aggressive fighter and I guess we kinda counteract each other. He’s maybe gonna get a decision or make a late comeback, and I’m trying to end it as soon as possible. So if he can last through the first and second round, then he’s pretty tough, because I plan on giving it everything I’ve got.”

Roberts also hopes to bring in some new fans to the art of the ground game, as he promises that once he hits the mat, the action is really going to pick up.

“I know a lot of people like to stand up and bang, but I think I’m gonna win a lot of fans over with my grappling,” he said. “I move really well on the ground and there are not a lot of people that can move like me. I’m extremely quick, I go from submission to submission, and I think I’m gonna gain a lot more people who don’t usually like grappling.”

One thing is universal to all fight fans though, and that’s the definitive finish. The 29-year old Roberts certainly subscribes to the school of thought that says ‘leave the judges at home, we can finish things here,’ saying, “I love to end it. If I can ground and pound a dude, that’s fine. If I can submit him, that’s fine too.”

A win is the final goal though. And from there another, and another, and another. As a professional mixed martial artist, that’s all Daniel Roberts knows, so he doesn’t expect to be changing that formula anytime soon.

“I definitely plan on being in the top ten,” said Roberts of his Octagon ambitions. “I’m not gonna go and say I want to fight against (welterweight champion Georges) St-Pierre right now, but that is gonna be my goal.”

One jump at a time.