Former WEC and UFC lightweight champion Benson "Smooth" Henderson (23-5) recently ended his contracted with the largest fight organization in the world and signed with Bellator MMA. Granted an immediate title shot against Andrey Koreshkov (18-1) this April, Henderson's move to Bellator not only significantly changes the welterweight division for the organization, but also shakes up the UFC and whether certain fighters will consider to continue fighting in the Octagon or move to new organizations. Although fighters like Alistair Overeem (40-14, 1 NC) and Aljamain Sterling (12-0) are going to stick with the UFC, there are some who have yet to be snatched up by the UFC. In no particular order, here are the five fighters who I believe are the best mixed martial artists currently not with the UFC.
1. Justin "The Highlight" Gaethje - World Series of Fighting
When a fighter has an undefeated record, there is obviously something special present, some factor that puts them above all the rest. Justin Gaethje is one such fighter. The current World Series of Fighting (WSOF) lightweight champion, Gaethje has both an undefeated amateur and professional MMA record of 15-0 (7-0 amateur). He is an extremely versatile fighter, whose background may be in collegiate wrestling, but 12 of his 15 wins have come by knockout. What helps Gaethje to stand out is not his fight intelligence, but his fight instincts; he is able to improvise and react on his feet in a way no other fighter can. This incredible ability to just "fight" without considering his next move, combined with constant pressuring, makes him a dangerous opponent that is in the prime of his career and is constantly moving forward. Watch this gif breakdown of Gaethje knocking down Luis Palomino (24-12).
Need I say more?
2. Will "Ill Will" Brooks - Bellator MMA
Often times, fighters have no where to go but up. In rare cases, this is not because they have hit rock bottom, but because they are so skilled, they simply rise to the top. This is the case of Will Brooks (17-1), the Bellator lightweight champion. Brooks is skilled in all areas of his fight game, from swift stand-up, to a crushing clinch, and great grappling. One of the elements to "Ill Will"'s success is his team at American Top Team, a fantastic MMA team which features UFC greats including Tyron Woodley (15-3), Glover Teixeira (24-4), and welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler (27-10, 1 NC). Add this to his media confidence, Brooks can back up everything he says as he propels himself forward into becoming a lightweight legend.
3. Ben "Funky" Askren - ONE Championship
Should a fighter's future be determined by how flashy their style is? I'd like to think that athletic skill should trump all else, but there are others who would disagree. Those people would not be in Ben Askren's camp. The former Bellator welterweight champion current ONE welterweight champ with an undefeated record of 14-0 (1 NC) is known for his dominant wrestling abilities. As a former NCAA wrestler and Olympian, it doesn't take much for Askren to take his opponents to the mat, gain a controlling position, and overwhelm them. While this might not be a style that lends itself to an ostentatious highlight reel, it certainly is effective. Dana White, the president of the UFC, is among those who don't want Askren in the UFC, especially at the price he had asked for. But if his skill is any indication, Askren is keeping the MMA world "Funky."
4. Marlon Moraes - World Series of Fighting
Some mixed martial artists are late-bloomers in the sport, taking a while for the ignition to get turned before they kickstart into a meteoric rise. This was the case for fighters like Matt Brown (20-13) and Mark Hunt (11-10-1), as it was for Marlon Moraes (15-4-1). A muay Thai kickboxer, Moraes's ascension began when he fought at the first WSOF event, defeating former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres (43-9), following it up with a seven-fight win streak, including wining the WSOF bantamweight championship. His incredible footwork allows him to completely prevent takedowns, and his kickboxing has helped to earn him the majority of his wins by KO or TKO. Having taken strides to now improve his grappling game, Moraes may have gotten a late start but has more than proven himself at this point in his career.
5. Phil "Mr. Wonderful" Davis - Bellator MMA
The first time I saw Phil Davis (15-3, 1 NC) fight was on November 20, 2010. Facing opponent and UFC veteran Tim Boetsch (18-10), Phil Davis submitted him in such a unique fashion, it was nicknamed the Mr. Wonderful armlock. And it certainly is a wonderful submission. Watch it below.
The rest of Davis' UFC career was not as wonderful, unfortunately. The NCAA Division I All-American-turned-mixed martial artist, although starting off strong, went on to have a record of 4-3 in the UFC before his contract ultimately ended, and the promotion decided not to renew it. Since then, Davis has signed with Bellator and he has more-than-proved himself within the organization, winning the one-night Bellator Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament. Though he still has a step or two to go before fighting for the Bellator light heavyweight championship, "Mr. Wonderful" has proven himself to be a strong contender.
It is unknown whether these fighters will ever join the largest fight promotion in the world, along with other fighters like Bibiano Fernandes (19-3) or Cris "Cyborg" (15-1, 1 NC), but their impressive careers go to show that the UFC isn't the only organization with impressive mixed martial artists to populate it.
