In the settling wake of the UFC 110: "Nogueira vs. Velasquez" pay-per-view event, there were the usual storylines coming out of the Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia.

As expected, the talk of the town has been Cain Velasquez and his rise to superstardom, which may have been suffering from some turbulence in 2009 but is unquestionably riding high again courtesy of a comatose Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

Another Japanese icon, Wanderlei Silva, also reaffirmed his place among the 185-pound elite with a unanimous decision win over Michael Bisping in "The Axe Murderer's" middleweight debut.

Heck, even Mirko "Cro Cop" got some love in the outback after slicing up Anthony Perosh like he was carving ham at the deli.

Yet quietly off to the side, sitting so far to the right in the post-fight press conference, Ryan Bader patiently waited to atone for his drubbing of Keith Jardine in a 205-pound scrap that may have serious title implications over the next 12 months.

"Keith Jardine was a step up in competition, a welcomed one," said the still-perfect Bader. "Coming off 'The Ultimate Fighter' and winning that, I just thought I was starting over at the bottom and just trying to work my way to the top."

What may come as a surpise is that the "top" of the UFC light heavyweight division may not be as heavy as it once was. Where do you put Bader, who must now take another step up in competition, in a division that is booked solid until the Fall?

With championship relics Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell tied up in TUF 11, as well as Mauricio Rua and Lyoto Machida calling dibs on the current title at UFC 113, not many serious threats remain to the top five fighters.

Rashad Evans? Quinton Jackson? They're booked at UFC 114. So are Forrest Griffin and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at the same event. That leaves Thiago Silva, who like Bader, made a mockery of Keith Jardine's chin in the not-too-distant past.

Unless of course Randy Couture wants to see if he can put his experience to the test against the rising star.

"I'm a young fighter in the sport and I'm in no rush," assures the humble Bader. "To have an opportunity to fight a guy like Keith Jardine and a name like Keith Jardine, from here it's just up to the UFC where they want me and I'll sign it."

Where does the UFC want him? That's hard to say. Perhaps the winner of Jon Jones vs. Brandon Vera? The schedule is pretty tight over the next few months. But there's no question that no matter who they choose, "Darth" will be ready and waiting to take another step towards his goal of one day becoming light heavyweight champion.

Sound unrealistic? Keep in mind that former TUF champions and current light heavyweights Forrest Griffin and Rashad Evans have already done it. Now Bader wants to join that prestigious club.

As quietly as possible.