5 of the best featherweights not currently signed to the UFC

#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.