By Jim Edwards

Life for Bellator bantamweight Darrion Caldwell is pretty sweet right now. 

Coming off the biggest win of his career to Joe Warren in March, he signed a new seven-fight contract with Bellator MMA and has recently been given the headline slot for the upcoming Bellator 159 card on July 22.

For some, achieving so much in such a small amount of time might have been enough, but for Caldwell, he only feels this is one small step toward greatness.

"That fight with Joe was the biggest fight of my career so far because he's a world champ in both wrestling and MMA, and I beat him in just one round," Caldwell said. "When you beat someone that's been at the pinnacle of every sport you've done, that's a big moment, and it speaks volumes for where I'm at right now.

"While I'm proud of that you better believe I've not stood still. This is just the start of whats coming. That win has definitely put people on alert because I not only beat the former champion, but I absolutely dominated him. It just goes to show everyone that my hard work is paying off and that I'm on the way up that ladder and I'm coming fast."

Caldwell's next step will be taking on Joe Taimanglo at Bellator 159. While Caldwell is no doubt happy with his progression right now, Taimanglo isn't a guy he is overlooking. Caldwell maintains he's been preparing for the best version of Taimanglo to show up in eight days.

"Joe poses a lot of threats, you know—he's a scrappy guy," Caldwell said. "He has eleven submissions and five knockouts. He's not a guy I will underestimate whatsoever; he's dangerous.

"His record speaks for itself. There's not much you can't say about him, you know. If he takes you down, he can finish you there. If he keeps you standing, he can finish you there. I'm expecting to go out there, bang it out there with him, but I do believe he's got some holes and I'm going to be able to finish the fight early on."

While maintaining focus on the short term and his fight with Taimanglo, Caldwell has the bigger picture all mapped out.

"I believe I'm already the best in the world at 135lbs, and I'm just going to continue to go out there and show that," Caldwell said. "There isn't anyone at 135lbs that can beat me, so I'm just going to go out there and show that with my performances. And when I'm done, my name will be forever cemented as the best at 135lbs ever. 

"To prove that, I'm just going to beat everyone that they put up against me. If I don't lose how can I not be the best fighter ever? No can ever say to me that I'm not the best if I never lose," he reiterated. 

His next fight at Bellator 159 will be the first on a new seven-fight contract with the promotion. While some have praised Caldwell for his loyalty to Bellator, others have claimed he is ducking some of the bigger stars in his division that currently reside in the UFC. Unsurprisingly, Caldwell thinks this is nonsense.

"That was the best decision of my life," Caldwell said. "Look, I've had nine fights in fours years—I'm now saying I'm going to be doing seven fights in two years. I'm going to keep staying active and keep putting money in my pocket as I continue to grow as an MMA fighter.

"I don't really care what people say, anyone that knows me knows that I never duck anybody. I'm just here to fight anyone that Bellator put up against me. I could have sat out that last fight with Joe, but I took that without thinking twice. I want to fight the best guys in the division and then move up and fight the best guys in their division. I don't care, I'm a pure fighter and I know that I don't duck anyone. I'll fight anyone that wants to fight me—I'm ready for it."

With the recent successes of former Bellator MMA stars Eddie Alvarez and Will Brooks in the UFC in the last few months, Caldwell believes this is further evidence the level of quality between the two promotions is now on a level playing field. 

"The level of competition has been the same for a while now," Caldwell said. "The UFC has been around for a long while and has done a great job marketing the sport and their fighters but the only thing I think they have is the depth [of their roster].  

"Everyone wants to be in the UFC these days and some are willing to even take a pay cut, but that's only because they want to be in the UFC so bad. I think it's all for different reasons than the fights they are going to get. Me, I'm happy to have fewer fights and get more money. Less damage means longevity, and that's a big part of someone's career, you know."

Caldwell's last message to anyone watching him at Bellator 159 was tinted with humor, yet still seemed deadly serious.

"If I don't make a believer out of you at Bellator 159, then you're just a hater."