John Salter Expecting Three-Round War Against Costello van Steenis at Bellator 233

John Salter is set to headline his second card in a row, as he takes on Costello van Steenis in the main event of Bellator 233.

Salter isn’t one to really care about his positioning on a card, but he nonetheless knows it is a special moment.

“It is something I never really cared about starting my career, but top to bottom it [Bellator 210] was one of the best cards I have been on,” Salter said to Sherdog. "I even went to watch the undercard, so to headline that was pretty amazing. This one, you got ‘King Mo’ on there so I’m excited about it, it will be a good card, too. Really good experience to be the main event.”

Salter knows Van Steenis will be a tough fight. He is confident he has the ground advantage, but knows he has to be smart with his takedowns or he will get caught with a submission attempt.

“I definitely will be happier if we are on the ground. But, he is not like a guy I have fought where if you put him in a bad position he breaks. He is really good at getting up and has submission attacks on the ground,” he explained. "I have to be careful and can’t just rush in on bad takedowns. I have to be willing to stay standing and exchange.”

Salter expects this to be a very entertaining fight and believes it will play out on the feet and the ground. He doesn’t expect either of them to be finished, but at the end of the night, knows he will get his hand raised.

“After everything I have done to prepare, I look at it being a three-round grinding fight. Obviously, I’d love to see something happen where I can finish him earlier,” he said. “But, in my mind, I think it will be a high pace three-round fight.”

If that all happens, Salter believes it puts him in a good spot to fight for the middleweight title next. But, if Rafael Lovato Jr. vs. Gegard Mousasi 2 happens, he won’t be waiting around for the winner.

“I think that is probably an ideal to set it up. I don’t want to wait for that fight to happen and then fight them. That is a long time to wait, so if I can get this win and stay busy and when that opportunity comes I’ll be ready,” he said.