5 of the best featherweights not currently signed to the UFC

Over the past decade, featherweight has become one of the most talented and stacked divisions in all of MMA. The UFC has fighters such as Max Holloway, Alexander Volkanovski and Brian Ortega who are considered some of the best MMA fighters in the world regardless of weight classes.

However, there is also a plethora of talented 145lb fighters outside of the UFC. Bellator, PFL and ONE Championship all have extensive pools of talent within their own rosters. The case is similar with some of the smaller regional circuits such as Cage Warriors, where Jordan Vucenic and Morgan Charriere are both tipped to become future UFC fighters.

In the following list, we will detail some of the best featherweights currently competing outside of the UFC. Honorable mentions go to Bellator's Emmanuel Sanchez, Jay-Jay Wilson and Adam Borics, as well as PFL's Bubba Jenkins and Chris Wade.

#5. Brendan Loughnane/Movlid Khaybulaev - PFL Featherweight

We start off with somewhat of a cheat pick, going for both Brandon Loughnane and Movlid Khaybulaev. These two PFL featherweights are set to face off against each other in September in a fight that many agree will solidify the winner's status as the top 145lber in the PFL.

Ever since Brendan Lougnane was snubbed by Dana White on the Contender Series despite picking up a dominant victory, he has been fighting like a man with something to prove. Four consecutive wins under the PFL banner have seen Loughnane defeat former UFC fighter Sheymon Moraes and former TUF competitor Tyler Diamond.

Loughnane's upcoming opponent, Movlid Khaybulaev, has quietly ammassed an undefeated record of 17-0-1. He holds back-to-back victories in the PFL, defeating both featherweight veteran fighter Lance Palmer and DWCS alumni Lazar Stojadinovic.

Loughnane and Khaybulaev are both elite featherweights with incredibly versatile skillsets. The fight between them will likely be an electric back and forth affair, with the winner announcing his name to every 145lb fighter on the planet as a legitimate threat.

#4. Thanh Le - ONE Championship featherweight

Thanh Le is One Championship's current featherweight champion. Similar to Brendan Loughnane, Le put in an impressive victory on Dana White's Contender Series, knocking out Lazar Stojadinovic with a head kick. But just as Lougnane was snubbed by Dana White, so was Le.

Thanh Le (7-1) scored a head kick KO on the Tues Night Contender Series but didn't receive a contract. He fights for the interim featherweight title at #LFA31 pic.twitter.com/zurBF4dS8A

— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) January 17, 2018

After the DWCS victory, Le returned to the LFA, where he defeated former UFC fighter Bobby Moffett. He then transitioned over to One Championship, going 4-0 and picking up the Singaporean promotion's featherweight belt.

#3. Mads Burnell - Bellator featherweight

The story of Mads Burnell's MMA career so far has been an interesting narrative. The Danish featherweight holds a 16-3 record and has already competed in the UFC, Cage Warriors and Bellator, despite only being 27 years old.

After amassing a 8-1 record on the Scandinavian regional scene, which included a submission win via an incredibly rare brabo choke, Burnell was signed to the UFC. He went 2-1 with the UFC, before being surprisingly cut from the promotion following his loss to now top UFC featherweight contender Arnold Allen.

Burnell didn't rest on his laurels after this disappointing set back, signing for European MMA promotion Cage Warriors and fighting his way to their featherweight title. He then left Cage Warriors, having defeated all four opponents he faced during his time with the promotion, and signed for Bellator.

Burnell has already defeated top Bellator featherweights Darko Benovic, Saul Rogers and, most recently, former title challenger Emmanuel Sanchez. He is now within touching distance of the US promotion's 145lb belt.

#2. Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire - Bellator featherweight

Up until Bellator 263, Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire was considered by many to be the greatest featherweight currently competing outside of the UFC. Some fans have even argued that he was superior to the likes of Holloway and Volkanovski.

However, the unfortunate loss at Bellator 263 not only saw Freire lose his featherweight title, but also the defacto place as the greatest non UFC 145lber. But this should not take anything away from the incredible record 'Pitbull' put together during his time with Bellator.

A record of 32-5 in one of the most talent-stacked divisions is nothing short of incredible. Freire defeated some of the greatest fighters to have ever competed under the Bellator MMA banner, including Michael Chandler, Juan Archuleta and Daniel Strauss.

Whilst he may finally have passed his prime, Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire is still undoubtedly one of the greatest featherweights on the planet.

#1. AJ McKee - Bellator featherweight

At Bellator 263, AJ McKee shocked nearly every MMA fan, media member and fighter out there. He dispatched one of the greatest featherweights in the world, Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire, in under three minutes.

🏆 18-0. AJ McKee. The #AndNew Bellator Featherweight Champion. #Bellator263Here’s how he won it, was it an early stoppage? 🧐 pic.twitter.com/qGJ1tl5pRi

— CageChat MMA (@CageChatMMA) August 1, 2021

Now the Bellator featherweight champion, McKee has issued an open callout to other featherweights, regardless of the promotion they fight for. Bellator president Scott Coker has backed the callout, welcoming the idea of a cross-promotional matchup.

AJ McKee now holds an undefeated record of 18-0, with every fight coming under Bellator MMA's promotional banner. In addition to defeating Freire, he also holds wins over Darrion Caldwell, Pat Curran and Georgi Karakhanyan.

Caldwell has already been placed into the argument of who the best featherweight in the world is right now and, at the age of 26, is likely only going to improve. He is undoubtedly the greatest homegrown talent that Bellator has ever produced and will no doubt go on to achieve great things in the featherweight division.