Jack Shore has insisted he isn't going to "cry over spilled milk" after being snubbed for a spot in the UFC's bantamweight top 15.
The undefeated Welsh fighter landed an impressive decision victory over Timur Valiev, who hadn't lost since 2016, on the promotion's return to London earlier this month. But the following week when the rankings were updated, his name was nowhere to be seen among the best at 135lb.
However, Shore is keen to get back into the octagon and earn his place. The general consensus would be that his next win, which would be his sixth in the UFC, will likely be against one of those names, and will land him a number next to his name for future bouts.
"It is what it is," he told Mirror Fighting after the win over Valiev. "I would have liked to have been in the rankings and you don't cry over spilt milk. With a performance like that Saturday I think I'm in a spot where I'm going to be ending up fighting one of those guys next anyway.
"This one should have been a ranked guy but timing and stuff didn't work out so I'll definitely have my manager on the case next week, I'll have one week to chill out.
"But it's got to be a ranked guy next, there's no-one else there I don't think and there's no point in me fighting backwards, it's got to be somebody with a number next to their name, it's not like I'm asking for a golden ticket, I feel I've earned it the hard way in the UFC.
"I never turned down a fight, multiple opponent changes on five-ten days notice, never said no to anyone or a fight date, I've fought everyone they've asked me to so I feel like I deserve that ranked guy now."
Shore will be pushing for a June return to the cage, and feels there's now no need to rush his next fight in the hopes of landing a big name opponent. Should he face somebody in the top 15 he could find himself against a host of major talents, including former world champion Frankie Edgar.
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Edgar sits at No.11, while Ricky Simon is No.12. One of the biggest stars in the division; Sean O'Malley, is currently No.13 and could be a fascinating stylistic match-up for Shore, while No.14 Marlon Moraes has teased retirement and No.15 Raphael Assuncao hasn't won a fight since 2018.
In the time since either Moraes or Assuncao have won a fight, Shore has defeated Valiev and three other opponents, and is keen to keep up his form as the year moves on. "It's got to be June for me," he said of his next bout. "I've got stuff on in July where I'm not available and I'd need time after that to get fight ready.
"I came up on the mentality that you fight anyone and that means fighting the best guy on your worst day. So if that means fighting O'Malley, I think me and him would be a great fight for the fans. But I also think me and Ricky Simon would be a great, great fight for the fans.
"Whoever it is, they're all tough in the top 15. Even O'Malley is no walkover himself, some people don't like his personality but he's still got very good skills. They're all very tough and guys I take seriously and want to get in and compete with."
