Michael McDonald refuses to call out Renan Barao but ready if the call comes
UFC bantamweight contender, Michael McDonald has today revealed that he won’t be calling out newly crowned interim champion, Renan Barao despite being one of the few fighters in a position to legitimately challenge for the title, but if the call comes he’ll be ready to take advantage of the situation.
Speaking via MMAFighting.com, McDonald said:
“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 No. 1, 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 6-8 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.”
McDonald is currently 15-1 overall in his mixed martial arts career and is riding an eight fight winning streak with victories over former WEC bantamweight champions, Cole Escovedo and Miguel Torres. Will he get the first shot at Barao’s interim title in the coming months? Tell us what you think…
By Michael Pepper. (Follow me on Twitter)
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