5 Best UFC Fighters Currently Ranked Outside the Top 10 of Their Division
In many UFC divisions, it is becoming harder than ever to stand out as an elite contender.
The pool of MMA competition is getting deeper and deeper, so the percentage of individuals reaching the Top 10 in their divisional rankings is getting smaller and smaller. Still, some excellent mixed martial artists exist outside the Top 10 in all weight classes.
Now removed from the rankings, former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones would be an obvious choice to top the list that follows. So, we'll exclude fighters who have been removed from the Top 10 due to inactivity or suspension.
Here are the five best UFC fighters not currently ranked among the Top 10 combatants in their respective divisions.
5. Tony Ferguson
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With five consecutive wins, Tony Ferguson has developed into one of the better active The Ultimate Fighter winners. El Cucuy's only UFC loss came against Michael Johnson at UFC on Fox 3, and Johnson has turned into a legitimate title threat since then.
In his latest outing, Ferguson ran into Gleison Tibau, the longstanding gatekeeper in the lightweight division. With a submission win over Tibau in the opening round, Ferguson proved he is a contender at 155 pounds.
At 31 years old, it has taken Ferguson some time to reach his current status in the lightweight division. However, he's trending upward more now than he ever has been.
Currently ranked No. 12 among 155-pound contenders, Ferguson will have a chance to break into the Top 10 when he meets Josh Thomson at UFC Fight Night 71.
4. Dustin Poirier
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Unlike Ferguson, Dustin Poirier is actually headed in the wrong direction in the official UFC rankings. However, it might not be long before The Diamond pops up in the Top 15 in his new division.
Poirier had emerged as an elite fighter in the 145-pound division. However, following a loss to Conor McGregor in September, he chose to return to the lightweight class. As a result, Poirier has plummeted in the featherweight rankings over recent weeks and now is hanging on by a thread in the No. 15 slot.
That said, Poirier has the potential to reemerge as a contender at 155 pounds. He stopped Carlos Diego Ferreira in his UFC lightweight debut and will look to take another step forward opposite Yancy Medeiros at UFC Fight Night 68.
3. Antonio Silva
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With three straight knockout losses, Antonio Silva is coming very close to being bounced from this list of elite fighters outside the Top 10 rankings.
However, Bigfoot is among the few individuals ranked outside the Top 10 who does own a win over a Top 10 opponent. Silva doesn't own only one Top 10 victory, either, as he's beaten Alistair Overeem, Travis Browne and Andrei Arlovski.
At 35 years old, Silva's recent struggles could signal that he is declining even though his losses came against elite heavyweights. In order to remain among the best UFC competitors outside the Top 10, Silva will need to rebound against Soa Palelei at UFC 190.
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2. Bobby Green
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Coming off of a loss to Edson Barboza, Bobby Green has some work to do to get back into the lightweight title shot conversation.
At the same time, a strong argument could be made that Green should be ranked among the Top 10 155-pounders. Prior to his loss against Barboza, Green picked up a split-decision win, albeit controversially, over Josh Thomson. Seeing as Thomson currently sits at No. 9 among lightweight contenders, Green could easily be ranked at No. 10 or even higher.
In July, Green will meet Al Iaquinta, another competitor who should be considered among the best UFC fighters not ranked inside the Top 10. Should he beat Iaquinta convincingly, Green may find his way into the Top 10 lightweight rankings.
1. Rick Story
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He's had some setbacks that have prevented him from getting a shot at the welterweight championship, but Rick Story is currently the best UFC fighter outside the Top 10 in any division.
Along the way, Story has beaten some of the best 170-pounders in the world. Former champion Johny Hendricks, former title challenger Thiago Alves, Jake Ellenberger and others have fallen to Story in the past. The 30-year-old has also recently gone to a split decision with Kelvin Gastelum, who owns a Top 10 position in the 170-pound class.
With two wins in a row, including a decision victory over the up-and-coming Gunnar Nelson, Story could soon break into the Top 10. A convincing win over Erick Silva at UFC Fight Night 70 could give Story the boost he needs to remove himself from this bittersweet list of excellent fighters who aren't quite elite at the moment.
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