WICHITA, Kan. – Antonio Carlos Junior has taken notice of the UFC’s change of plans in relation a long rumored fight between Paulo Costa and Yoel Romero at next month’s UFC on ESPN 3, and “Shoeface” wants to help in the resolution.

Carlos Junior told MMA Junkie that with the pivot to Romero vs. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, Costa has another opponent ready to sign the dotted line – and the two have a little history together, as well.

“I’d love to fight him,” Carlos Junior said. “We’re both Brazilians. We both have some issues we need to solve. We were in the same house. I’m ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ champion. He lost inside the house, and now he’s like, ‘Oh, I’m the guy of the moment.’ That’s not what happened.

“I’d like to do this for the fans. I’d like to do this for the UFC because it looks like everybody in the rankings either has a fight or got an injury. I would be the only one he could fight, and for me it’s the same, so it would be great for me.”

Carlos Junior and Costa were each cast members on “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3,” where both were members of Team Wanderlei. At the time, Carlos Junior was fighting at heavyweight, though it was clear he was undersized for the division, and they each now compete at 185 pounds.

Costa is ranked No. 13 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie MMA middleweight rankings, while Carlos Junior sits at No. 15.

Costa (12-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) was long tied to an April 27 meeting with Romero at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla., but with the promotion going in another direction, Carlos Junior (10-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) wants the slot, and he thinks he’d be able to reveal some issues with the undefeated challenger’s game.

“He’s doing good, but I think he’s overrated, and I’d like to show people what I’m saying,” Carlos Junior said. “That’s why I asked to fight him. He’s doing his job. He’s very good. He knocks people out, but I’d like to face him and show people he’s overrated. Now he’s going to fight Yoel Romero, he’s No. 2. Come on.

“I’m fighting for too long. I know I had some bad moments in the fight against Dan Kelly. Before that, it was everything good. But after that, I feel like people forgot me. I’m ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ champion. I submit people. I knocked people out inside the house. Beware.”

Should Romero wind up in the fight, Carlos Junior said his push for a fight with a top contender won’t stop. Now fully healthy after taking some time to deal with surgery, “Shoeface” said he’s ready for anyone at 185 pounds, and he’s calling everyone out.

On a five-fight winning streak with four submission victories, Carlos Junior said he’s tired of waiting on someone to say yes.

“Everybody wants to choose the opponent,” Carlos Junior said. “If you want to be a champion, you can’t choose the opponent. In my sport – I’m a jiu-jitsu world champion – I’ve got to fight everybody. I can’t choose who I’m going to fight, so I’ve got to fight everybody. That’s how I became the world champion. That’s how it should be here, also, but now everybody wants, ‘No, I want to fight that guy.’

“Everybody wants an easy fight. I don’t want easy fights. I want a challenge. I want to be challenged. If I want to be a champion, I want the legacy. I want something bigger. I need to fight with the big guys, the tough guys, so I don’t pick a fight. Whoever it is, I’m always ready for.”

To hear more from Carlos Junior, check out the video above.

For more on UFC on ESPN 3, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.