What seems to be the likely game plan for Ryan Bader heading into his fight with Matt Mitrione is to grind out a win. As in, take him down and use wrestling to tire him out over 15 minutes.

If that’s the case, it’s just fine with Mitrione.

“I’m happy that Bader feels so confident, as well,” Mitrione said during a cooking feature with Barstool Sports. “The fact that Bader’s there saying what he’s saying, ‘Mitrione’s going to get tired, I’m going to wear him down, blah, blah, blah.’ You can plan on me getting tired, but the point of me getting tired, it means you lasted long enough for me to get tired. And I don’t see that happening.”

Mitrione and Bader are set to meet in the Bellator heavyweight grand prix semifinals, with the winner advancing to the finals for a shot at the vacant championship. Their bout will headline Bellator 207 on Oct. 12 from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.

To get there, Mitrione defeated Roy Nelson by majority decision last February at Bellator 194. Bader, the promotion’s 205-pound champion gunning for a second title belt, had a much easier time in his quarterfinal, defeating Muhammed Lawal by TKO in just 15 seconds in May at Bellator 199.

After that victory, Bader acknowledged Mitrione’s size and speed but said he knows there’s one area he can exploit.

“Where he lacks a little bit is his wrestling, where I’m great at,” Bader told MMAjunkie. “My cardio is some of the best at 205, let alone at heavyweight. So I have that going for me also. It’s one of those intriguing fights. I look to go out there and definitely use my strengths for sure.”

Again, if that’s the case, Mitrione welcomes that with open arms.

“I’m glad. I like him a lot,” Mitrione said. “But it’s going to feel really awkward to sleep him in front of everybody.”

Bader opened as the betting favorite for his fight with Mitrione. The winner will face the winner of the semifinal between Fedor Emelianenko and Chael Sonnen, which headlines Bellator 208 the next night.

For more on Bellator 207, check out the MMA rumors section of the site.