Yes, many of these fighters are in the UFC but the UFC does not encompass the entire sport.
In combat sports and especially in mixed martial arts (MMA), the best fighters are relative to the time and the culture of sports they fight in. Yes, many of them are in the UFC but the UFC does not encompass the entire sport of MMA. Bellator, One Championship, and many other promotions around the world feature many fighters that can make claim to being the best there is.
Greatness exists in many ways in combat sports so when it comes to fighting it can be best observed in the build-up to a match, the way they fight, or how long they have been winning. There is a lot to look at but all of the athletes in MMA have their own grind for success, here are 16 fighters that are currently at the top of their game.