Junior dos Santos: With UFC politics out of the way, I should be next to fight Fabricio Werdum

Fabricio Werdum is quickly learning that the target on his back gets a whole lot bigger now that he's the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight champion of the world.

And one man who is desperately aiming for his title is none other than Junior dos Santos, who told Sportv after last weekend's (Sat., June 13, 2015) UFC 188 event -- which saw Fabricio submit Cain Velasquez to claim the crown -- that based on his No. 2 ranking, he should be the one to face "Vai Cavalo" first.

His words (via Bloody Elbow):

"I'm working towards that, no doubt about it. I think this result benefits me a little. I can't say I was cheering for Werdum or Velasquez, it didn't matter to me. But people were saying it wasn't the time for a fourth fight with Cain, so I was against the politics. Now, if I'm next on the rankings, I must fight the champion. I think this Werdum win clears up the division and I can get this title shot I want so bad."

As for the fight itself, Junior gives Werdum his props for handling Cain with his great strategy and eventually catching him with the guillotine.

"Kudos to Werdum because he would attack, stop, breathe and attack again. He got a guillotine that was pretty much perfect. It was a mistake Velasquez knew he couldn't make and Werdum was waiting for him to make. It all fell into place."

Dos Santos -- who was last seen outpointing Stipe Miocic at UFC on FOX 13 last December -- already holds a win over "Vai Cavalo," which came in 2008 after the Brazilian landed the uppercut heard around the world to make his successful Octagon debut.

Since that loss, Werdum has gone on a tear, winning nine of his last 10 fights with his only other loss coming at the hands of Alistair Overeem in 2010. Speaking of "The Reem," he too, wants a crack at the new champion, as he believes he is the one to expose the Brazilian's weaknesses.

Only one can get first dibs against the new heavyweight kingpin.

Who should it be?