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UNCASVILLE, Conn. — After notching his seventh win in a row, Raufeon Stots wants a step up in competition.

At Bellator 253 on Thursday, Stots (15-1 MMA, 3-0 BMMA) defeated Keith Lee by unanimous decision. After another impressive showing, he’s ready to take on the bantamweight division’s elite.

Chatting to reporters, including MMA Junkie, backstage after his win, Stots revealed Bellator has already attempted to book him against higher-level opposition, but fighters have just refused to sign the dotted line.

“It’s funny because I’ve been offered title fights,” Stots said at the post-fight news conference at Mohegan Sun Arena. “I’ve been turned down by some title challengers. I’ve been turned down by the top-level people. So I know in my head that I’m up there amongst the best because I put some fear in people. So for me, I know it – it’s just the rest of the world has to catch up, and I’ve got to keep racking up these ‘W’s until they catch up.

“I want the top contenders in the division: Patchy Mix, Leandro Higo, Brian Moore. I was slated to fight Josh Hill. I’m at a position where I want to fight the best. I want to prove I’m the best the hard way because my life has been hard and I enjoy taking the hard route. I just understand that this is the route I have to take. I don’t like the easy way out. I want to take the hard fights in the division and keep climbing and keep building my status and keep doing it the right way.”