Every year, UFC’s Hall of Fame features top fighters and personalities who have contributed significantly to different eras. Being a member of the UFC’s Hall of Fame is a great honor for every fighter in the organization as it recognizes their contributions, accomplishments, and general success.
Former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion is the latest member in the “Modern Wing” of the Hall of Fame class of 2022. The induction ceremony will take place on 30th June at the T-Mobile Arena. Cormier was inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
With Cormier and Khabib set to be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year, UFC fans can’t help but wonder who is next in line. Here are five UFC fighters who might be next in line to be inducted into the UFC’s Hall of Fame.
1. Anderson Silva (The Spider)
A former UFC middleweight champion, “The Spider” deserves a place in the Hall of Fame. Silva’s performance as the middleweight champion solidified his position as one of the greatest MMA fighters in history.
Silva was quite dominant during his career, with some of his fights looking like an exhibition. The former middleweight champion had no problem defending his title, leaving his fans in awe as he easily knocked out most of his opponents.
Even in his light heavyweight fights, Silva managed to toy with opponents to win decisively. One of his greatest knockouts was in UFC 126, where he crashed Vitor Belfort. Silva surprised Belfort with a powerful front kick, getting the knockout in the first round at 3:25.
Silva holds multiple records in the middleweight division. That includes the longest UFC title reign, most middleweight title fights, and most successful title defenses in the middleweight division.
2. Demetrious Johnson (Mighty Mouse)
When Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s induction to the Hall of Fame was announced at UFC 272, many fans believed Demetrious Johnson should have gotten the nod first. The “Mighty Mouse” is among the best flyweight fighters of all time, dominating the 125-pound division.
Although Demetrius finally lost the title to Henry Cejudo through a split decision, he defended the strap 11 times, a record that few fighters will ever achieve. The American MMA fighter moved away from the franchise years later, but his UFC legacy remains intact to date.
The pound-for-pound kingpin showed great dedication to his craft, displaying ridiculous punch stat numbers in his career. He definitely deserves to be a hall of Famer.
3. Frank Shamrock (The Legend)
Former UFC Strikeforce middleweight and light heavyweight champion Frank Shamrock is arguably the biggest Hall of Fame omission in 2022. The adopted brother of Hall of Fame member Ken Shamrock trained at the Lion’s Den, creating his own legacy in the franchise.
Shamrock had to step into the big shoes of his brother Ken who left UFC to join the more lucrative WWE. The American MMA fighter managed to rise past his brother’s shadow, remarkably representing the modern MMA era.
Shamrock excelled in different fighting styles, making him a well-rounded fighter better than his peers. His accomplishments in the UFC were impeccable during his 15-year career, recording four successful title defenses.
4. Conor McGregor (The Notorious)
Conor McGregor is arguably a key fighter in the UFC. The former two-division champion has set many PPV (pay-per-view) records in his career, leading to lots of mainstream exposure for UFC. McGregor is yet to be seen as the greatest UFC fighter of all time, but there’s no denying he has etched his name in MMA history.
The Irishman made his UFC debut in 2013, quickly becoming a key attraction in the franchise. His unmatched charisma and incredible knockout made him a fan favorite and gave him a shot at the title against former featherweight champion Jose Aldo.
McGregor split wins Nate Diaz in the welterweight division before defeating Eddie Alvarez through a TKO to claim the lightweight championship title. His popularity soared after fighting a boxing match against Floyd Mayweather. McGregor’s accomplishments and contributions to the UFC should make him a Hall of Famer.
5. Jens Pulver (Little Evil)
Looking back at UFC’s history, it’s hard to overlook Jens Pulver’s accomplishments. Unfortunately, the inaugural UFC lightweight champion is yet to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Besides being the first lightweight champion, Pulver was a true pioneer for UFC’s lighter weight classes.
After winning the first-ever lightweight championship title, Pulver successfully defended the title twice over BJ Penn and Dennis Hallman. “Little Evil” won both bouts by decision, although he had to relinquish the title later while leaving the franchise because of a contract dispute.
Based on what Pulver accomplished in his career, there’s no reason why he should not be next in line for UFC’s hall of fame
