Brad Tavares has been surging, and he believes it’s just about time he starts getting some stiffer tests in the UFC’s middleweight division.

After four straight wins against Dongi Yang, Tom Watson, Riki Fukuda and Robert McDaniel, the “TUF 11” semifinalist finally gets one a week from now in Georgia.

Tavares (11-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) meets former Strikeforce standout Lorenz Larkin (14-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 35, which takes place Jan. 15 at Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Ga., just north of Atlanta. It will be just the second main-card appearance for Tavares in the UFC – he opened up the main card against McDaniel at UFC Fight Night 27 this past August.

A win over Larkin could propel him quickly to that continued next level of opponent, and he knows it. But he’s comfortable with the path he’s been on – as long as he continues to elevate his status.

“Recently, I really wanted to get those bigger-name guys,” Tavares recently told MMAjunkie. “I think I deserve those fights. … I’ve put in work and I’ve beat some good guys. But whatever they think is best. Looking at some of the guys who have come in and been on those meteoric rises, not everybody’s been like a Jon Jones or a Chris Weidman. Some guys have come in, shot right up the rankings, got that title shot, fell off, and they lose three or four straight after that. I’m happy right now.

“I’ve just got to keep winning fights, and if I keep winning, eventually that strap will be around my waist.”

Not that McDaniel, Fukuda, Watson and the like are slouches. But Larkin is a step up, Tavares thinks. The lone loss on the former light heavyweight’s record (not counting a no-contest against Muhammed Lawal that was a knockout loss overturned when “King Mo” tested positive for steroids) is a decision setback to Francis Carmont in his UFC debut – and Tavares believes Larkin won that fight.

He said he jumped at the chance for the fight when it was offered, saying he believes their styles should make for an exciting fight. But that bout came after he had asked for plenty of big names.

“I’ve been asking the past few fights for a bigger name,” he said. “I wanted to fight Wanderlei Silva. Most recently, I wanted to fight Tim Kennedy, (Tim) Boetsch, (Francis) Carmont or (Constantinos) Philippou – those guys are ranked. They’re up there, and people know who they are, so those are guys I wanted to fight. Lorenz Larkin, maybe a lot of the UFC fans don’t know him, but I’ve seen him in Strikeforce and he’s done damage there. … For me to get a chance to fight this guy and put a real blemish on his record is a good opportunity for me.”

So he’ll be shooting to beat Larkin, and then see about asking – again – for fights farther up the ladder.

“I think no matter what, with a win over Lorenz Larkin, they can’t deny me a top 10 guy,” he said. “I think I’m right there knocking on the door. I’m right outside the top 10. I’ve said it before – I think I can beat any of those guys.”

For more on UFC Fight Night 35, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.