“The way I go about it is very simple. It could be pretty much summed up as, look at the top six, and I could be fighting anyone in the top six. It depends who the UFC wants to put at number one, and everything revolves around that, and who they want the two people fighting for the title to be. It’s not my decision or place to decide when or who does it. I just know that there are six people around that number I could be fighting. At all times, I have about six people on my radar I’m looking to fight and whoever the UFC throws in out of that six, that’s who I fight. I feel like I’m good enough, yes. I feel like I can. I can do it. If I didn’t feel like I could compete with these guys, I honestly wouldn’t be here right now. I was very cautious and picked my career very well, to make sure I can compete at the level I’m at. So of course, I do believe I can compete with those guys.”

“When I look at my career from an outside view, I’ve only fought one top 10 guy. Yeah, I’ve had quite a few fights in the UFC, but I’ve only had one top 10 fight, against Miguel Torres. I think I’m ready, but I’ve only had one top 10 fight. Look at these other guys who’ve been in the top 10 for so long. Brian Bowles, Eddie Wineland, Scott Jorgensen — those guys have been top 10 for years. I’ve only been in the top 10 for six to eight months. That’s why I don’t know for sure. I think I’m ready if UFC wants to put me there, but looking at an outside perspective of what seems right for just my career, that’s why I would say I’m not going to go out and call them out right now.”

Top bantamweight fighter Michael McDonald took to “The MMA Hour” yesterday to discuss his place in the UFC’s bantamweight division with show host Ariel Helwani.

Is he the man to shake up the division or will Cruz and Barao reign over the small guys for years to come?

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