5 fighters not ranked in their division's top 5 who could win UFC gold in 2022

#2. Khamzat Chimaev - UFC welterweight contender

Chimaev is currently ranked No.11 in the welterweight division

Khamzat Chimaev has looked virtually untouchable since he burst onto the UFC scene in 2020. While his most recent victory over Li Jingliang was his first ranked win, the dominant fashion of his performance and his surging popularity means he is likely only one or two fights away from a title shot.

Another factor that may help Chimaev quickly enter the title picture is the lack of fresh challengers at 170 lbs. The champion, Kamaru Usman, has already beaten a number of the division's top contenders and while it appears he will next face Leon Edwards, Chimaev could very well be his next challenger after that.

While defeating Usman is no small task, one can't help but wonder whether Chimaev could be the man to do it. He's looked just as fearsome as the welterweight champ since debuting and certainly appears to be one of the few men capable of climbing to the top of the 170 lb division.

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#1. Jon Jones - Former UFC light heavyweight champion

Jones is currently No.6 in the UFC pound-for-pound rankings

Jon Jones does not feature in the UFC heavyweight rankings as he has never competed in that weight class. However, since relinquishing his light heavyweight title, he has consistently stated his intention to move up a division and win gold once again.

Given just how successful Jones was in the light heavyweight division, it's very likely he will be immediately inserted into a title fight upon his return. Jones is one of the greatest of all time and he might need just one shot at the gold to claim it.

There are obviously a number of variables here as we have not seen Jones compete at heavyweight and he has struggled to stay out of trouble outside of the octagon. With that being said, when it comes to fighters not ranked in the top 5, few, if any, appear to have a better shot at winning gold in 2022 than Jon Jones.