While UFC 222's fight card has been criticized for some last-minute changes, a deeper look reveals plenty of fighters looking to make the jump to contender status this Saturday in Las Vegas.

Although there are nearly a dozen ranked fighters on the card, perhaps no fighter is poised to make as big of a jump as bantamweight Cody Stamann. 

After two quick wins in the UFC in 2017, the Michigan native finds himself opposite Bryan Caraway, who is ranked No. 7 in the UFC's latest rankings despite having not fought in a year and a half. 

On this week’s Top Turtle MMA Podcast, Stamann discussed the huge jump up in competition and how he thinks he fits into the division.

“When Bryan Caraway’s name came up, there was no hesitation. I signed the contract that day," Stamann said.

Many young challengers likely wouldn’t hesitate at the opportunity to face a division mainstay such as Caraway. However, that is not the primary reason Stamann likes this fight.

“I feel like Bryan Caraway is one of those guys who has been the same guy his entire career,” Stamann said. “He’s a boxer-wrestler who throws the same punches in all of his fights — maybe a little bit sharper, but I think he was maybe a little more explosive when he was younger... He’s actually a pretty easy guy to prepare for.”

And Stamann thinks that style plays right into his strengths, especially given his Midwestern amateur background. 

“Against Caraway, I’ve long thought this was a very good matchup for me just because of the way he fights," Stamann said. "Honestly, as far as fighting records and fighting wrestlers as a professional, I’ve knocked every one out. So, I’m looking to continue that streak March 3." 

Some fighters don’t like to look past their next opponents, but Stamann is not one to temper expectations or to put limits on his goals. 

With the Caraway fight right in front of him, Stamann has a clear path of where he wants to go next. 

“First I’m going to knock the shit out of Bryan Caraway," he said. 

After that? Stamann has his eyes set on the major players at 135 — TJ Dillashaw, Cody Garbrandt, and Dominick Cruz among them. 

“I’ve thought about fighting all of them," Stamann said. "I’ve watched all their fights. I study the sport religiously. I feel like I match up well and could get ready to beat any one of those guys.”

Stamann's expectations are high, but he feels every fighter who wants to be great should have the same goals in mind.

“If you’re in this sport and you see a guy in this division and are like, 'You know what? I actually couldn’t beat that guy,' you’re in the wrong sport," Stamann said. “I’m not the man yet, but someday I will be.”

Of course, with the division’s current status, it makes it difficult to draw out that plan exactly. But like with most things, Stamann has strong convictions on the future of the bantamweight title as well. 

“If [champion] TJ [Dillashaw] goes to 125 pounds, that’d be great," Stamann said. "I’d be excited for that fight. That’d be nothing but good things for our division. There’d be a lot of eyes on that fight [vs. flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson].

"I also think there should be an interim title fight. Someone else should get a shot to move up.”

And with the right combination of fights, that person just might be Stamann.

“John Lineker and Raphael Assuncao are two guys I’ve thought about fighting for a long time," Stamann said. "After beating one of those two guys, I feel like I’m in that contender list.”

By Daniel Vreeland