https://youtu.be/l7hJ1cS87NQ

Last Saturday, in the first fight of UFC on Fox 22, fan favorite welterweight Alan Jouban handed “Platinum” Mike Perry the first loss of his career with a lopsided unanimous decision win. With this victory, Jouban extended his win-streak to three, and his UFC record to a strong 6-2. Three of those UFC wins have come by way of first-round knockout, and three earned him Fight of the Night honors.

Given these stats, Jouban believes its high time that he’s awarded a spot in the welterweight rankings, and that he starts getting the opportunities that come alongside a spot in the rankings: big-name opponents, and the opportunity to headline cards.

The rising welterweight explained this feeling in a recent interview with USA Today Sports.

“I’ve said it in every interview thus far and I’m going to say it again,” he said. “I’ve been on the cusp of the rankings since I stepped foot into the UFC. My first fight against a UFC veteran I get fight of the night, [and a] knockout. Since then, this is my eighth, ninth fight in the UFC, three wins, three wins in a row. Five out of my last six. Three fight of the night bonuses, three first-round knockouts, two standing elbow knockouts, I mean I could just go on and on. Nobody in the division is more deserving than I am of being in the rankings. Nobody in the division who’s not ranked is more deserving than I am to be in the rankings. If there’s anybody with an equal number of wins or so, they’re not doing it with the kinds of style points that I’m doing it.”

Watch Jouban’s full interview at the top of this article. Do you think that Jouban’s accomplishments in the UFC thus far should earn him a spot in the welterweight division’s crowded top-15? Sound off, PENN Nation!