By Daniel Vreeland

The UFC’s bantamweight division has been tough to get a read on lately. 

A carousel of champions hasn’t helped, nor has the fact that it appeared the champion was going to pursue flyweight king Demetrious Johnson over a worthy challenger at 135. 

Now, however, with the title fight rematch between TJ Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt set, the top contenders in the division can start mapping their quest for the crown. 

One such contender has it planned. Brian Kelleher, who continues his run to the top with a May 12 fight vs. John Lineker at UFC 224, has his plan in place. In an interview with the Top Turtle MMA Podcast on FloCombat, Kelleher put it all out there.

“I believe in myself 100 percent, and I do believe I’m the next guy [to take the belt],” Kelleher said.

Obviously, Lineker stands in his way, but Kelleher is confident in his abilities for this fight. He sees it not only as a step up but also as a chance to show the UFC why he’s there.

“I’ve got to make a statement against Lineker," Kelleher said. "I always say this—that I never look past a guy—and I don’t want it to sound like that. Lineker is a tough opponent, really hard to finish, but I’m gonna take him out and make a statement and we’ll go from there." 

His confidence comes from a mixture of his preparedness and his knowledge of Lineker’s game. Although Kelleher personally doesn’t like to watch too much film on opponents, his coaches have him ready for everything Lineker brings to the table. 

“I know he’s a power puncher. He likes to mix it up to the body and head,” Kelleher said. “He really just looks to box. He doesn’t throw a lot of kicks or throw a lot of level changes… He’s somewhat one-dimensional.”

If he takes care of Lineker, Kelleher at first played it off like he didn’t have a plan in the aftermath. Following a little more discussion, however, he dropped some specifics.  

“I hope they can give me a title contender fight after this,” he said. 

This hope also brings a couple options—one of which is a former champion in his own right. 

“It looks like everybody is booked in my division ahead of me except for maybe Dominick Cruz," Kelleher said. "I don’t know when and if he’s coming back, but that would be a great fight for me… I would be interested in that." 

If Cruz isn’t ready, Kelleher likes the winner of an upcoming bantamweight headliner. 

“They can match me up with the winner of [Jimmie] Rivera and [Marlon] Moraes for a title contender fight. I’d take that as well,” Kelleher said. 

Regardless of which option comes to fruition, Kelleher knows the road leads to the same place, and that place is close to home. Although his first UFC fight in his home state of New York didn’t go his way last July—losing to Marlon Vera via submission—his blueprint has a plan to rectify that and to do so in a big way. 

“I want redemption 100 percent," Kelleher said. "And what better story to come back to MSG [Madison Square Garden] for a title fight in November?”