The UFC is home to an overwhelming majority of the best fighters in MMA. However, many elite competitors still do battle outside the Octagon.
Although most fighters would gladly take less money to compete on the sport’s biggest stage, the UFC has missed out on some high-profile free agents like Eddie Alvarez and Ben Askren recently. It also made surprising decisions to part ways with former title challengers Jake Shields, Yushin Okami and Jon Fitch.
With Viacom, NBC Sports Network and CBS Sports Network showing some serious interest in the sport, MMA has a landscape that is currently changing drastically. That has opened up opportunities for good fighters to make noise outside the UFC occasionally.
Here are the 20 best male fighters who are not currently competing under the UFC banner.