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"I've been the quiet guy and it doesn't pay the bills. I'm the lowest paid guy in any top ten in the UFC. That's a hard pill to swallow."

Bryan Caraway has been doing a lot of thinking, and he's realized that now is the time to make a few changes. The Washington state native is currently the No. 4-ranked bantamweight in the world and likely one win away from an opportunity at the title.



Despite his high ranking and his recent run of form, Caraway isn't happy with the state of his current UFC contract, and he believes he's now at a point where he needs to be more outspoken if he's ever going to make the money he feels he deserves.



"I was ranked third not long ago, and now I'm ranked fourth," Caraway said. "I'm top five in the world, in the UFC, and I'm a veteran. I've put in more time than these other guys--I have 44 MMA fights. I've earned it, not only in the UFC Octagon, but in the sport as a whole. I'm a veteran, I've been a trailblazer in the sport, and I feel like I should be one of the top paid guys.



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"That kind of sucks, you know? I don't want to have to be out of my character, but there is a point I'm getting to where I'm just like f**k all you mother*****s. I will start talking s*it, and if people hate me, then go ahead--hate me. Who cares? No one knows me. Everyone can go right ahead and hate me--whatever. I'm going to let the animosity out instead of just holding it in."



For Caraway, the tension and the anger is reaching a boiling point.



"I've got my family, my loved ones and all of my friends around me and who are close to me," Caraway continued. "I'm getting close to the point where I'm about to snap--not just because of money, but because of the unfairness. I'm always focusing on trying to better and not bitter, but talking trash seems to pay the bills. I guess it's just a catch-22."



Caraway confirmed he was still in the middle of his current contract, but that his team would negotiate with the UFC for an improved one. He feels he has a legitimate claim to being one of the bigger fish in the 135-pound pond, and he feels like he now needs to be suitably rewarded for it.



"It's just a fact," Caraway said. "I see other guys' pay and talk to other guys I know. Everybody knows what they are being paid relative, because MMA is a small world. The UFC can get mad at me all they want, but I know all this for a fact. I've been winning fights, and I still think I'm one of the bigger names in the weight division regardless of whether it's because of me or something else."



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Adding another layer to Caraway's situation is his girlfriend, UFC bantamweight star Miesha Tate. Because of her lofty status in the game, many feel Caraway is simply riding her coattails, a point he denies.



"People say, 'Oh, people only know you because of your girlfriend.' Well, for the last 10 years I've been her coach, I've been her manager, and I deserve to be recognized. If it's not because of her I deserve to be recognized on my own merit, anyway."



"Nobody else got me into the top three in the world except for me. I have one of the highest percentage finish rates in the entire UFC, so that itself, I believe, means I deserve to be paid more. I know there are heavyweights ranked not even inside the top 20 that are getting paid twice as much as I am getting paid, so that's a problem."



The report released by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) after Caraway's last fight in May showed that he is currently fighting on a deal with $18,000 show money, with an $18,000 bonus in the instance of a win. Unsurprisingly, Caraway's management team is currently dealing with this.



"It is what is, you know, my new management team are working on that and are very intelligent," Caraway said. "I know they have my back, and I think in due time I'm going to get what I deserve. Patience is a virtue and I believe good things come to those who wait patiently. You just got to be smart."