Las Vegas — It’s safe to say that Megan Olivi is a big fan of this year’s UFC Hall of Fame class.
Speaking to media outlets including Cageside Press, the UFC broadcaster, who happens to be married to former WEC and UFC star Joseph Benavidez, shared her thoughts on the Hall’s 2024 honorees – including Wanderlei Silva, Shogun Rua, Frankie Edgar, and Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
“I think this is the best night of the entire year for the world of mixed martial arts. I’ve been saying this all night, but I feel like we often are moving so fast in this sport, we don’t to appreciate the great performances or the great athletes or the great things that we get to witness,” stated Olivi. “So tonight is an opportunity to kind of his the pause button, and see how far we have come, and the successes that our sport has had. I think I probably say this every year, but I truly believe this particular class has really shaped so much of the world of mixed martial arts.”
While that class saw Wanderlei Silva inducted into the Pioneer Wing of the Hall of Fame, it also saw Silva’s rival, Chael Sonnen, honored for his legendary first title fight against Anderson Silva.
“From Frankie Edgar showing that small guys can be cool and talented and fun to watch, to Joanna Jedrzejczyk being the second woman inducted into this Hall of Fame, and guys like Shogun and Wanderlei Silva, absolute legends. Watching them from Japan to here, and now getting the accolades that they deserve within the UFC Hall of Fame, it’s so beautiful. I was at Chael and Anderson, I had bruises on my hands because I had my nails in my hands so hard, because everybody was on edge.”
“This particular class, and maybe I say this every year, but I just feel like we owe a debt of gratitude to them for where the sport is today and the popularity of it,” added Olivi, “and I hope that they truly feel the appreciation that they deserve.”
Watch the full 2024 UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony media scrum with Megan Olivi above.
