ALBUQUERQUE, NM - JUNE 07: Bryan Caraway reacts after his submission victory over Erik Perez in their bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Tingley Coliseum on June 7, 2014 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Cody Garbrandt may believe he's ready for a bantamweight title-fight, but fellow contender says he deserves the next crack at UFC gold.
"I think this puts me in title contention," he told the assembled media inside the Mandalay Bay after his split-decision victory over Aljamain Sterling.
The way he sees it, beating Sterling made him the best available man to challenge the winner of this week's UFC 199 championship bout between Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber.
"The only guy ranked above him is Barao - Barao moved up to '45, and Dillashaw and Faber. Faber is already fighting for the title. Dillashaw has already fought for the belt and he already has a match lined up with Assuncao, so I think I'm right there in the mix," he continued.
As for Garbrandt, Caraway didn't have anything bad to say about Sunday's breakout star, but he didn't like the idea of the 24 year-old passing him by, just yet.
"Garbrandt wasn't even ranked, before," he reasoned.
"I'm not saying he isn't an amazing, amazing fighter, but he wasn't even ranked so I think for him to leapfrog from not even being ranked to above me would be ludicrous."
In the end, Caraway believes that his two-fight win streak and the fact that he just beat a top-five contender like Sterling will make him the next, obvious, choice for a title fight.
"I think I'm the highest-ranked guy, now, that hasn't fought for the belt.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.