This weekend saw the announcement that Jens Pulver, the inaugural UFC lightweight champion, will be inducted into the promotion’s Hall of Fame this summer. So which fighters could join him soon?
Jens Pulver’s induction into the UFC Hall of Fame is well overdue, and there are a number of other fighters who are worthy of being inducted, too.
The first lightweight champion in UFC history is headed to the Hall of Fame! 🏆Congratulations @Jens_Pulver on becoming 2023’s newest #UFCHOF Inductee![ Presented by @ToyoTires ] https://t.co/DSIGNQqpXu
These fighters range from former champions to popular legends who never managed to win a title, but still made their mark in the octagon.
Here are five fighters who ought to join Jens Pulver in the UFC Hall of Fame.
#5. Frank Mir – former UFC heavyweight champion (Modern Wing)
One fighter who certainly belongs in the UFC Hall of Fame is former two-time heavyweight champion Frank Mir.
One of the most skilled submission artists in the history of the heavyweight division, it’s arguable that Mir is his generation’s most underrated fighter.
The Las Vegas native debuted in the octagon way back in 2001 at the age of just 20. He eventually departed the promotion 16 years later, giving him the longest uninterrupted tenure of any fighter in UFC history.
Longevity is not the only thing on Mir’s side when it comes to a potential Hall of Fame induction, though. During his tenure in the octagon, he beat some of the best heavyweights in the game, including Tim Sylvia, Brock Lesnar, Mirko Cro Cop and Roy Nelson.
Perhaps most impressively, he became the first man to both knock out and submit former UFC and PRIDE champion – and Hall of Fame inductee – Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
Arguably, only two things stand against Mir’s potential Hall of Fame induction right now. Firstly, he hasn’t officially retired and the promotion only tends to induct fighters who’ve hung their gloves up.
Secondly, he didn’t leave under the best terms, moving to Bellator MMA in 2017. However, the fact that his daughter Bella recently signed a developmental deal with Dana White and company probably stands in his favor.
Essentially, then, Mir hasn’t fought since 2019 and doesn’t seem to be likely to compete again anytime soon, so he ought to be given his rightful spot in the Hall of Fame.
#4. Evan Tanner – former UFC middleweight champion (Pioneer Wing)
It’s now been nearly two decades since Evan Tanner’s brief reign as UFC middleweight champion and almost 15 years since his tragic death in the deserts of California in 2008.
Despite all this time passing, Tanner has still not been inducted into the promotion’s Hall of Fame, but that should really change in the near future.
Tanner has seemingly been forgotten by many longtime fans at this stage, and newer ones might not even recognize his name. However, it’s not a stretch to describe him as one of the best middleweights to ever step into the octagon.
The native of Amarillo, Texas, made his debut in the octagon in 1999 after putting together an impressive 16-1 record on the regional circuit. Remarkably, he was a self-taught fighter, watching old VHS tapes for inspiration and then training alone in his garage.
Initially, he fought at 205 pounds, even unsuccessfully challenging Tito Ortiz for the light heavyweight crown in 2001. However, his best successes came when he moved down to 185 pounds in 2003.
Tanner claimed two victories over top contender Phil Baroni, and then stopped Robbie Lawler to put himself in line for a title shot. From there, he upset hot favorite David Terrell, brutalizing him with ground-and-pound in a wild fight to become the promotion’s first middleweight titleholder in over a year.
Tanner’s reign did not last too long as he was unseated by Rich Franklin in his first defense. However, despite suffering a further three losses before his career ended prior to his death, he was never an easy out for any fighter.
Renowned for helping to popularize the use of elbow strikes on the ground to great effect, Tanner was a charismatic, popular fighter whose tragic death probably robbed the fans of more potentially great fights.
Former UFC Middleweight Champion Evan Tanner passed away 12 years ago today. Rest In Peace. https://t.co/8eMeVoCVrI
Sure, he might not be as decorated as some of the other fighters on this list, but he definitely belongs in the Hall of Fame.
#3. Vitor Belfort – former UFC light heavyweight champion (Pioneer Wing)
It seems hard to believe but, somehow, Vitor Belfort has not yet been inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. Considering his longevity, accomplishments and various reinventions, this is baffling.
‘The Phenom’ debuted in the octagon way back in 1997, when the sport of MMA was still in its infancy. He immediately rose to fame with his explosive wins over the likes of Tank Abbott and Tra Telligman.
At one point, he looked invincible. His first career loss to Randy Couture proved that wrong, but the Brazilian then rebounded with a famous win over Wanderlei Silva before moving to PRIDE.
He would return to the UFC on two separate occasions later, seeing success both times. First, he won the light heavyweight title from Couture, albeit in controversial fashion. Then, he cut a path of destruction through the middleweight division, beating the likes of Dan Henderson, Luke Rockhold and Michael Bisping.
Belfort was never able to claim gold at 185 pounds despite two attempts at it, falling to both Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman. He also courted controversy with his infamous use of testosterone replacement therapy during his run as a middleweight.
However, for his lengthy and impressive list of victims, as well as his incredible longevity – competing at the top for nearly two decades – should be enough to net him a spot in the Hall of Fame in the near future.
#2. Diego Sanchez – former UFC welterweight contender (Modern Wing)
For the most part, the fighters inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame thus far have either held titles in the promotion or claimed gold in one of the other large MMA organisations like PRIDE or WEC.
However, while Diego Sanchez never claimed gold in the octagon – if you ignore his tournament win in the inaugural season of TUF – it’s safe to say that he definitely warrants a spot in the Hall’s Modern Wing.
Put simply, ‘The Nightmare’, who departed the promotion in 2022 following two straight defeats, could well be considered the most exciting fighter to watch in UFC history.
His wars with the likes of Nick Diaz, Karo Parisyan and Martin Kampmann still stand the test of time as true classics, while his bout with Gilbert Melendez was widely recognized as the best fight of 2013.
In fact, technically speaking, Sanchez is already in the Hall of Fame in a way; his crazy 2009 fight with Clay Guida was inducted into the Fight Wing in 2019.
Does Sanchez warrant a spot of his own, though? Absolutely. ‘The Nightmare’ was still competing near the top of the promotion 15 years after his initial victory on TUF, when the other fighters to graduate from his season were long gone.
More to the point, he competed in four different divisions during his time in the octagon, something that only a handful of other fighters can claim.
Overall, while Sanchez could never call himself a champion, he should definitely be considered a true legend and would definitely warrant an induction into the Hall of Fame.
#1. Anderson Silva – former UFC middleweight champion (Modern Wing)
Given that he was once widely considered the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in the world and held the UFC middleweight title for a record-setting six-and-a-half years, quite why Anderson Silva has not yet been inducted into the promotion’s Hall of Fame is a mystery.
‘The Spider’ debuted in the octagon in 2006 with a win over Chris Leben, taking out ‘The Crippler’ in under a minute. That set him up for a shot at middleweight champion Rich Franklin and, despite coming in as an underdog, Silva destroyed ‘Ace’ to claim the gold. It set the trend for a truly remarkable career.
Silva reeled off win after win after win. He defeated every top contender in the 185-pound division, including Nate Marquardt, Dan Henderson, Chael Sonnen and Vitor Belfort.
He even made a handful of forays up to 205 pounds, easily dispatching former light heavyweight kingpin Forrest Griffin in 2009.
That Forest Griffin KO never gets old.Anderson Silva at his best 🔥#UFCVegas12 | Saturday 9pm | BT Sport 1 HDhttps://t.co/NiS8DPslRW
By the time Silva was finally dethroned by Chris Weidman in 2013, he’d won 16 bouts in the octagon in a row, a record that, thus far, nobody has come close to beating.
Sure, ‘The Spider’ tested positive for banned substances in 2015 following his win over Nick Diaz and his career ended badly, with just one win in his final six bouts. However, that doesn’t take away from his accomplishments.
Put simply, for a time, there was no bigger star in MMA than Anderson Silva, and it’s a travesty that he hasn’t already been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Hopefully, it’s something that will change soon.
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