UFC welterweight Santiago Ponzinibbio is fired up.

The 32-year-old Argentinian list off his accomplishments – 15 octagon fights, 13 wins, seven consecutive victories, and four consecutive knockouts.

Enough for a title shot? Maybe. He’s waiting on his promoter to tell him the plan.

After another highlight-reel knockout in the headliner of UFC Fight Night 140, Ponzinibbio (27-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) is riding higher than ever before. Politicians and entertainers now burn up his phone. There’s a new hotbed in MMA with colors of blue and white.

But he can’t help but wonder what it all means if he can’t get the kind of opportunity that offers life-changing money and stature. He’s a patient man, but only so patient.

“Tyron Woodley, when he got the title shot, he had six fights for the company,” Ponzinibbio, who finished Neil Magny (21-7 MMA, 14-6 UFC) this past Saturday, told MMAjunkie. “He won four and lost two. He lost to Rory MacDonald, and then got two fights – two easy fights. Koscheck and that other guy, and they gave him a title shot. C’mon! This is ridiculous!

“Always, my fights are exciting. He’s not an exciting fighter. I opened a new market in my country with the pressure and the expectations. I won for my people – that is something Tyron is not ready for. And that is something he will never do.”

It didn’t surprise Ponzinibbio to hear Woodley (19-3-1 MMA, 9-2-1 UFC) almost dismiss his callout. He believes the welterweight champ has been ducking a fight and will do so until ordered otherwise, such as the case with Colby Covington (14-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC).

Ponzinibbio doesn’t have any ill will toward the current No. 1 contender, who’s likely to fight for the belt next year. They pass each other without issue at the famed American Top Team, though they’ve shared only a few training sessions in the past.

It’s not Covington standing in the way, as Ponzinibbio sees it. It’s politics.

“This is (expletive),” he said. “I don’t care about that, man. I’m ready. I know that.”

He also seems to understand the precariousness of his position in the UFC’s welterweight class. As hard as he works and as many fights as he wins, he could be leapfrogged by a returning Georges St-Pierre(26-2 MMA, 20-2 UFC) or a belt-hunting Conor McGregor (21-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC).

Meanwhile, every next opponent is billed as the next champion, the next big challenge he must beat back to preserve his spot. Still, he never turns down the promotion, and he keeps performing.

“You give me Conor, I am a better striker than him,” Ponzinibbio said. “He’s really good at trash talk and he’s a really good businessman, but I’m a better fighter. This is different. I’m a better striker. I have better timing. I have better power. I’ll finish him, for sure. I’ll finish McGregor. I’ll finish GSP – GSP is old. He’s a good guy. I like him. I’m a big fan. But I’m better. I’ll finish him. I’m ready for both. I’m an exciting fighter.

“I know I’m ready. I know I’ll finish Tyron. I know I’ll knock him out, but I need the opportunity. If you give me the fight with GSP, I’ll knock him out for sure. I’ll knock anybody at 170 pounds if you give me the opportunity.”

Soon, he’ll get word of the opportunity that awaits. He expects the winner of an upcoming fight between ex-lightweight champ Rafael dos Anjos and Kamaru Usman. After that, he’s not sure.

Ponzinibbio proclaims he’s been a company man for a long time. He’s got the second longest win streak in the welterweight division. He wants a reward.

And either way, he proclaims, he’s going to keep getting better.

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 140, check out the UFC Events section of the site.