5 best unranked fighters in the UFC lightweight division

The UFC lightweight division is arguably the deepest and most competitive bracket across combat sports. The shark tank that is 155 lbs is so stacked with talent that numerous championship-caliber prospects are yet to crack the divisional top 15.

While all the fighters ranked in the top 15 at 155 lbs are world-class talents, there is no shortage of up-and-coming lightweights who will make their way into the rankings down the line. Some have the potential to even claim UFC gold.

Here are the five best unranked fighters in the lightweight division.

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#5. Mark O. Madsen (12-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC)

After accruing an 8-0 record on the European regional MMA scene, Mark O. Madsen signed with the UFC in 2019. He made his promotion debut in his home country of Denmark, cruising to a quick first-round TKO victory.

Madsen, a former Olympic silver medallist in Greco-Roman wrestling, is a force to be reckoned with on the mat. The Danish phenom has phenomenal top pressure and strength, and his stellar arsenal of takedowns makes him a nightmare matchup for almost anyone he fights.

Madsen has already picked up four wins inside the octagon. The unbeaten lightweight's record currently stands at 12-0, and if he continues on his current trajectory, a shot at a ranked opponent isn't very far.

Such is his dedication to the sport, 'The Olympian' has uprooted his entire family from Denmark and relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, USA, where Madsen trains alongside former two-division champion Henry Cejudo.

Madsen is scheduled to take on Grant Dawson next week, and if he picks up his fifth win in the promotion, the lightweight top 15 will be firmly put on notice.

The only thing working against Madsen is age. He turned 38 earlier this year, which isn't ideal in the 155-pound division. Nevertheless, with his Olympian mindset and the fact that he is fully committed to making the most of his career, expect this Danish wrestler to stir things up when he breaks into the top 15.

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#4. Terrance McKinney (13-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC)

Prior to signing with the world's premier MMA promotion, Terrance McKinney was making quite a name for himself on the regional scene. Just seven days after a dominant first-round knockout victory in LFA, 'T-Wrecks' made his UFC debut in Glendale, Arizona.

Filling in on short notice after a fighter withdrew from a 155-pound bout at UFC 263: Adesanya vs. Vettori, McKinney stepped in against Matt Frevola and recorded the fastest knockout in the history of the lightweight division.

Since his sensational debut, McKinney has picked up two more wins. His lone loss in the promotion came against Drew Dober, a fight he accepted on short notice, which he almost won in the first round before gassing out.

McKinney has a kill-or-be-killed style that has resonated with the masses. The all-action American has never seen the judges' decision in his professional career and typically starts fights like a caged animal that's just been released. Against Dober, he dropped his opponent twice before being finished just seconds later.

Out of his 17 career bouts thus far, only two have gone to the second round. McKinney has a staggering 12 first-round finishes under his belt, including five knockouts and eight submissions. He is incredibly well-rounded, possessing supreme grappling skills and one-punch knockout power in his fists. At just 28, he has all the tools to make it to the top at 155 pounds.

A matchup against fellow rising star and serial finisher Paddy Pimblett is slowly but surely emerging as a massive fight down the line.

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#3. Paddy Pimblett (19-3 MMA, 3-0 UFC)

Paddy Pimblett has been very smart and calculated while mapping out his MMA career. The Liverpudlian notably turned down the UFC on two separate occasions before eventually signing with the American promotion in 2021, and has emerged as one of the biggest stars in the sport already.

Pimblett had a loyal fanbase long before signing with the UFC, having made a name for himself in the UK's leading MMA promotion, Cage Warriors. With his ground-shaking walkouts, crazy submissions and memorable post-fight interviews, 'The Baddy' was the biggest star in the English organization before his departure.

Pimblett made his UFC debut last year and sailed to a first-round knockout win over Luigi Vendramini at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. In his sophomore octagon outing, the Brit came away with another quick finish as he submitted Rodrigo Vargas at the O2 Arena in London.

In his appearance at the subsequent edition of UFC London just a few months later, he secured yet another finish to take his UFC record to 3-0, finishing Jordan Leavitt to send the English faithful in attendance into a frenzy.

Paddy Pimblett's future is undoubtedly bright. With his savvy self-promotion skills, infectious personality and entertaining fight style, he is already among the most recognizable personalities on the roster, even among casual MMA fans.

Still just 27 years old, his skillset is quite advanced and future opponents will be wary of his submission threat. As he continues to improve his striking, expect 'The Baddy' to emerge as a legitimate threat to the lightweight elite. UFC president Dana White has even likened the Englishman to global superstar Conor McGregor.

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#2. Gregor Gillespie (14-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC)

Gregor Gillespie is widely regarded as a divisional dark horse. An ominous presence at 155 pounds, Gillespie was among the lightweight top 15 until quite recently, but was removed due to inactivity.

While some were quick to speculate that the American wrestling juggernaut was released from the promotion, he took to Twitter to confirm that he has taken a voluntary break from the octagon. 'The Gift' reassured fans that he intends to return to action at some point down the line.

Gillespie compiled a record of 7-0 before being signed by the promotion. He has since taken his record to 14-1, including seven knockouts and five submissions. His lone loss inside the octagon came against former interim challenger Kevin Lee, but aside from that bout, he's looked outstanding.

A former NCAA Division 1 wrestling champion, Gillespie's strength and control on the mat is on par with some of the best fighters in the division. Once he gets on top of his opponents, it's only a matter of time before he finds a finish.

While the reasons for Gillespie's ongoing hiatus are unclear, whenever he does choose to return to the octagon, expect him to have added a few more tools to his kit. He hasn't fought since May 2021 and is unlikely to return before 2022 closes out.

At his best, Gillespie is without a shadow of a doubt among the most dangerous lightweights in the world. His return will be one of the most highly anticipated of 2023.

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#1. Guram Kutateladze (12-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC)

Guram Kutateladze's UFC record of 1-1 is quite misleading. While some fighters are slow-played when they initially sign with the promotion, others are thrown straight to the wolves. This has been the story of Kutateladze's time in the octagon so far.

In his promotional debut, 'The Georgian Viking' took on former two-division KSW champion Mateusz Gamrot, handing the previously undefeated Polish phenom the first loss of his career. While the decision was contentious, their 'Fight of the Night' bout showed that both lightweights are more or less on the same level.

However, Gamrot is now among the lightweight top 10 and is just a few wins away from a title shot, while Kutateladze still sits outside the top 15.

In his second appearance inside the octagon, Kutateladze squared off against another surging prospect in Damir Ismagulov, who was riding a scorching 18-fight win streak prior to their bout. The duo engaged in a highly technical bout at UFC Austin earlier this year, with Ismagulov edging out a razor-thin split decision win.

Ismagulov is also among the ranked contenders at 155 pounds. Meanwhile, Kutateladze, who is clearly as good as his two ranked opponents in the UFC so far, is still waiting for his opportunity to break into the top 15. While bad luck has certainly played its part, he might have to make a few tweaks to his game if he is to ascend up the lightweight ranks.

His two split decisions thus far could've turned out differently if he incorporated more volume into his striking. With a few minor adjustments, expect 'The Georgian Viking' to blossom into one of the top contenders at 155 pounds in the near future.