5 unranked prospects the UFC wants to build up before giving them high-profile fights

#2. Paddy Pimblett - UFC lightweight

At UFC Fight Night: Till vs. Brunson, American MMA fans were introduced to Paddy 'The Baddy' Pimblett. The lightweight debutant, hailing from Liverpool, England, made short work of Luigi Vendramini, picking up a first-round KO victory. He then went on to deliver an iconic post-fight interview with Michael Bisping.

UFC Fight Night: Pimblett v Vendramini

Both Pimblett's KO and his interview went viral, turning him into an instant star. The UFC will undoubtedly take their time to build Pimblett up now, having seen how much traction 'The Baddy' can generate on social media off the back of just one fight.

Should the UFC return to the UK in 2022, Pimblett will likely feature on the main card slot. It would also likely be against an opponent primed for another highlight-reel stoppage from the Liverpudlian.

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#1. Sean O'Malley - UFC bantamweight

The top example by far of the UFC holding back a fighter from competing against high-level opposition is, of course, 'Suga' Sean O'Malley. The bantamweight prospect is arguably one of the biggest names in the entire UFC. Despite that, he has nearly solely fought people outside the top 15.

UFC 264: Poirier v McGregor 3

His last fight was arguably the biggest of his career. It took place on the main card of UFC 264 and was against UFC debutant Kris Moutinho.

His other opponents inside the UFC include Thomas Almeida, Jose Quinonez, Andre Soukhamthath and Eddie Wineland, all of whom have since been cut from the promotion.

He does have an upcoming fight with Raulian Paiva, who is certainly a step-up in competition. However, Paiva recently fell out of the rankings and his last fight with Kyler Phillips was a close-run affair in which Paiva came incredibly close to being finished.

Should O'Malley be victorious, he may finally be paired with big names such as Dominic Cruz or Marlon Moraes. However, fans should not hold their breath.