View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgmPkNhU74w
After beating Eddie Wineland at this past Saturday’s UFC on FOX 16 event, bantamweight Bryan Caraway would like to welcome Michael McDonald back into the UFC’s octagon.
The way Caraway (20-7 MMA, 5-2 UFC) sees it, McDonald (16-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) has held onto his high ranking for a little too long, and he’d like to relieve him of it.
“Who above me (in rankings) that I’ve been wanting to fight forever, so I might as well stay with it – I don’t know how he is with his injuries, but I really want to fight McDonald,” Caraway told MMAjunkie Radio soon after the Wineland win. “I’d been wanting to fight him or Eddie Wineland, whoever (was) going to come back first, whoever’s ready to fight first.
“I really want to fight McDonald; he’s been in that No. 4 or 5th ranked spot forever, and I really want to break into that top five. I’m only trying to look forward.”
While McDonald, who’s ranked No. 7 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA bantamweight rankings, has yet to return from a long injury layoff, No. 14 Caraway got one name checked off his list when he outpointed Wineland (21-11-1 MMA, 3-5 UFC) on the main card of this past Saturday’s event at Chicago’s United Center.
The win put Caraway back in the win column after a decision loss to top contender Raphael Assuncao this past October. It also put him in a unique place in the UFC’s bantamweight division – and not necessarily one with a lot of leeway if upward mobility is his main concern.
“They announced that over the speakers, and (UFC matchmaker) Sean Shelby told me that other than Raphael Assuncao, I’ll be the highest ranked guy that hasn’t fought for the belt,” he said. “So who knows. Maybe the cards will fall right and I’ll get my chance in the title in my next fight. I’ve finished every single guy except for Wineland; it’s hard to finish every guy in the top 10, top five. I think I belong up there at the top. So either Michael McDonald, or I want to fight for the belt.”
LINK: After latest win, Bryan Caraway wants Michael McDonald or UFC title shot | MMAjunkie