People talk about how much of a shame it is that Askren is not in the UFC where he would get a chance to prove he is the top WW on the planet.
Two other killers are in that same situation.
Darrion Caldwell is going to run though Joe Taimanglo on July 22nd and then he is going to take the belt from Dantas.
Caldwell is a former NCAA champ and 9-0 in MMA He could have waited for the Dantas/Galvao winner and a title shot but he chose to stay active. As good an athlete as you will find in MMA.
He is very likely the best BW on the planet. Cruz is lucky he is in Bellator, Dantas is unlucky. Watch his fights vs Bunch and Warren if ya don't believe me.
Then we have Vitaly Minakov.
4x Sambo World Champ
1x Judo Jr. National Champ
1x Freestyle Jr. National Champ
Former Bellator MMA World Champ
18-0 in MMA
9 wins by KO/TKO
7 wins by sub
2 decisions
MMA wins over Graham, Kongo, Volkov, Martinez, Scherner, Sanchez, and Copeland.
You put this man in a cage with Miocic/Werdum/Cain/JDS/Overeem/Hunt etc... three months from now and I call Minakov the favorite.
Forget Askren, Caldwell and Minakov are the real possible uncrowned world champs.
Hopefully the UFC is in both mens future.
Stopped reading at Caldwell being the best BW in the world. 
dhughes - Should've just titled thread ATTN: CREMade me legit lol
Shy Guy - Stopped reading at Caldwell being the best BW in the world.
I'm not claiming he has proved it yet.
To prove you are the best in the world you have to go beat the man with the legit world title (UFC) or beat the man recognized by fighters/fans/media as the best.
I have just watched him get better and better.
Just my personal opinion, if him in Cruz entered training camp today, and fought in 3 months, Caldwell wins.
In before Cre posts his undying love and a mass of gifs and pics
Cruz has proven to be the current best BW in the world. He is the man.
But there comes a time when young lions arrive and kill old dogs.
This isn't as crazy as it looks on the surface, if Caldwell and Minakov (moreso Minakov, he needs to be in the UFC asap, Caldwell still has good competition in Bellator) were UFC champs in 18 months I wouldn't be surprised in the least.
HOWEVER, Askren is proven in my eyes. Complete dismantling of Koreshkov and Lima, and even Suzuki who has a nearly 70% KO/TKO rate. Ben Askren sits comfortably in the top ten right now and has been an undefeated world champion for 6 years already. That's a rare thing.
I think it's a little quick to call Darrien the best BW in the world, however I do think he fares well in the UFCs top10. Id love to see him fight Cruz or TJ.
Minakov on the other hand is definitely a top 5 HW and I think he would win the strap 
CRE the worst poster on here, he's like porn pop ups, you go to see something good, and you're just spammed with bullshit about askren.
Robert Paulson - In before Cre posts his undying love and a mass of gifs and pics.
donkeykongfist - CRE the worst poster on here, he's like porn pop ups, you go to see something good, and you're just spammed with bullshit about askren.
CRE is a top notch poster and a breath of fresh air.
BJTT-BigDaddy -If all we could breathe was CRE, I'd drown myself.donkeykongfist - CRE the worst poster on here, he's like porn pop ups, you go to see something good, and you're just spammed with bullshit about askren.
CRE is a top notch poster and a breath of fresh air.
Caldwells in the 2nd best promotion and will have competition and maybe even a better chance to make more money in bellator then he would in the ufc. Askren won't have competition and probably makes next to nothing compared to other organizations....through no fault of his own (other then pissing dana off maybe)
Knew this was a Caldwell thread before i clicked it . lol
Minakov beats all but maybe Cain right now.
shifty1watchim -Lolllllldhughes - Should've just titled thread ATTN: CREMade me legit lol
Isn't Minakov fighting on UFC FIght Pass these days? They will have no rush on taking him off of their own platform.
It's sorta like competing with themselves for their own talent.
BJ Penn Forever - Cruz has proven to be the current best BW in the world. He is the man.
But there comes a time when young lions arrive and kill old dogs.
Old lion can kill a young dog
I'd say you thought the same about Cejudo! Or Sterling! Don't blow your load just yet bro!
KenP - Minakov beats all but maybe Cain right now.Do not agree. Stipe, JDS, Cain all beat him right now imo but he would be top 5