Demetrious Johnson, the most decorated flyweight of all time, will join the Hall’s Modern Wing as part of the Class of 2026. News of Johnson’s induction was announced during Saturday’s UFC Seattle broadcast. The former UFC and ONE Championship champ was on hand at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA for the announcement, and a video package detailing his illustrious career.

Johnson (25-4-1) has long been on the MMA Mt. Rushmore of many, and is considered one of the greatest UFC athletes of all time. His 11 consecutive title defenses remain a UFC record.

After losing his belt to Henry Cejudo in 2018, Johnson never got the opportunity to reclaim it. Instead, frustrated with his career in the UFC, he signed off on a “trade” to ONE Championship in exchange for former Bellator and ONE welterweight champ Ben Askren.

Johnson won a flyweight grand prix and a world title in ONE Championship as well, posting a 5-1 record through six fights with the promotion and winning a trilogy with Adriano Martins.

“Mighty Mouse,” who holds notable wins over John Dodson, Joseph Benavidez, Henry Cejudo, Kyoji Horiguchi, Ian McCall and others, retired in 2024, the year following his final bout for ONE. He’s also a member of the ONE Championship Hall of Fame.

“Demetrious Johnson is the greatest flyweight of all-time,” said UFC President & CEO Dana White in a press release issued Saturday night. “Demetrious was a great champion who had one of the most incredible careers in MMA, and his streak of 11 consecutive title defenses is one of the most remarkable records we’ve ever seen in professional sports. It will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.”

The post Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson Announced As 2026 UFC Hall of Fame Inductee appeared first on Cageside Press.

During Saturday’s UFC 326 broadcast, promotion officials announced that Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Weili Zhang from UFC 248 in March of 2020 would be inducted into the promotion’s Hall of Fame, in the Fight Wing as part of the Class of 2026.

The bout saw Jedrzejczyk challenging China’s Zhang for her old women’s strawweight title; Zhang came out the winner, in a dangerously close split decision. The bout also saw a massive hematoma form on Jedrzejczyk’s head, but that didn’t stop her from finishing the bout.

“The fight between Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Zhang Weili at UFC 248 is one of the greatest fights I’ve ever seen,” said UFC President & CEO Dana White in a press release distributed in conjunction with Saturday’s announcement. “This fight was incredible. You had two talented savages that wanted the strawweight title more than anything and neither one of them backed down during this fight. I knew this was going to be a badass fight and it absolutely delivered. Congrats to Joanna and Weili on a fight that will always be remembered!”

The pair would rematch at UFC 272 two years later, in a non-title affair that Zhang won via spinning back fist.

Jedrzejczyk was previously inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s Modern Wing in 2024 for her career efforts. While Jedrzejczyk has retired, Zhang remains an active part of the UFC roster.

The post Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Weili Zhang All-Time Great Fight Headed to UFC Hall of Fame appeared first on Cageside Press.

That honor will go to Dominick Cruz, the legendary WEC and UFC bantamweight champion, whose career famously played out in fits and starts after injuries started to pile up.

Promotion officials announced the news during Saturday’s UFC 324 broadcast.

“Dominick Cruz is one of the greatest bantamweights in combat sports history,” said UFC President & CEO Dana White was quoted as saying in a press released issued in conjunction with Saturday’s announcement. “Dominick was an amazing athlete who set the standard for bantamweights, and it will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.”

Cruz (24-4) will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s modern wing, and will be the 17th fighter there. The modern wing includes names like Georges St-Pierre, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Amanda Nunes and others.

“The Dominator” began his career in 2005, and was a perfect 9-0 when he ran into Urijah Faber at WEC 27, suffering the first loss of his career. Cruz would go on to claim WEC’s 135lb title in 2010, however, defending it twice before the UFC absorbed the smaller promotion.

After being promoted to UFC bantamweight champ, Cruz got his revenge on Urijah Faber, then defeated Demetrious Johnson, a future flyweight great, in 2011. Mounting injuries forced Cruz to vacate the title, but he would win it back in 2016 by defeating T.J. Dillashaw, then defeated Faber a second time to win the pair’s career series.

Cruz would lose the title to Cody Garbrandt later that year, and go 2-2 across his final four fights, a run that ended in 2022 and featured more injury setbacks. A retirement fight in 2025 at UFC Seattle last February, against Rob Font, was also scrapped by yet another Cruz injury. The bantamweight great later retired.

The post Dominick Cruz First Fighter Named for UFC Hall of Fame, Class of 2026 appeared first on Cageside Press.

Osbourne is known for appearances at many UFC events, with this year’s 2025 Hall of Fame Ceremony being no different. ‘The Jamaican Sensation’ strutted down the red carpet with a calm outfit, but some blinging jewelry.

Cageside Press’ Gabriel Gonzalez caught up with the ecstatic UFC flyweight,

“I’m just as blessed as Max Holloway, living the dream. 12-year-old me, a boy coming from Kingston, Jamaica, to being in the UFC on the red carpet, being on my fourth contract with the UFC. At one point, I was nine years old walking through the woods of Jamaica, I never would’ve thought that this would’ve been a possibility.”

When asked about his consistent appearances around UFC fight weeks and events, Osbourne detailed his appreciation.

“I came from a third-world country. No hot water, no bathrooms inside. So I’m always happy because I appreciate the little things, and these are the big things, so it makes me even more happy. I think gratitude is one of the best qualities a person can have, waking up every day and being grateful. I try to be grateful every single day about the most I can.”

Watch our full interview with UFC flyweight Ode Osbourne from the 2025 UFC Hall of Fame Ceremony above.

The post Ode Osbourne “Just as Blessed as Max Holloway,” Reflects on Growing Up in Jamaica appeared first on Cageside Press.

With 12 knockouts in those 15 wins, Belfort’s brawling and kickboxing have brought some of MMA’s most historic moments. Fights against Jon Jones, Randy Couture, Anderson Silva, and Chuck Liddell are just a few when discussing the number of legends Belfort has faced.

When looking back on his career, Belfort doesn’t see a certain generation that stands out. The legend himself doesn’t define his career by any one era. He enjoys being able to reflect on his success across various stages without a single standout period.

“I think I reinvented myself in many different [eras]. You can go back into the different generations, so that’s amazing. I was one of the guys to fight in different generations, and not a lot of guys did that,” Vitor Belfort said with pride, speaking with Cageside Press at the 2025 UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

‘The Phenom’ then gave a short breakdown about how he progressed throughout his career.

“The early one was a little bit ego-centric, most prideful, and a lot of lessons learned. The one in the middle and at the end was amazing. It was an amazing experience.”

Belfort’s longevity and success in the sport are something rarely seen today. A Hall of Fame induction is not only just, but was anticipated by many for the Brazilian legend.

Watch our full interviews with Vitor Belfort from the 2025 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony above.

The post Vitor Belfort Relishes Being a Top Fighter In Different Generations appeared first on Cageside Press.

First came the hottest topic of the night, the induction of Israel Adesanya vs. Kelvin Gastelum to the Fight Wing of the HOF. Anik jumped right in with a massive conclusion when asked about the fight,

“Maybe the best fight that I have ever been assigned. I just remember thinking, in maybe my third year of calling PPVs, can a 25-minute fight actually get more epic than this? I remember when my boss asked me earlier this year about some HOF fights, and there was a long list. This one jumped off the page, really excited to see these two athletes get this honor.”

Following this praise, Jon Anik also commended the introduction of the Fight Wing for the chances it presents non-champion fighters.

“It gives the UFC an opportunity to acknowledge athletes like Kelvin Gastelum, who may not get in on the merits of his individual body of work.”

Robbie Lawler’s long-anticipated HOF induction was also a hot topic of the night. This was a source of pleasure for Anik, who recalled his expectations for this moment years ago.

“I also knew when he went into the HOF for the Rory McDonald fight that he was gonna have to go back to the podium a couple years later for this honor. When I think about all the people that I have worked for in MMA, all the fans that I’ve talked to, and all the fighters that I’ve interviewed, I think Robbie Lawler may be the most beloved guy of them all. He’s an absolute legend, and he’ll take your soul if he needs to.”

Jon Anik Reveals the Method Behind the Madness

Anik also provided an interesting insight into his commentator role and how much work we actually miss behind the scenes.

“Sometimes the fighter walkouts are commercialized depending on where in the world you’re watching. I might tell a background story that never makes it to the air, sometimes I might trot it out again. It’s a fine line; our sport moves so quickly. I might have to bail on a background biographical story mid-round because the action necessitates it. I probably use 15% of what I prepare, I just try to optimize my moments as best as I can.”

Watch our full interview with UFC lead play-by-play commentator Jon Anik above.

The post Jon Anik Praises “Best Fight I’ve Ever Been Assigned”; Robbie Lawler for HOF Inductions appeared first on Cageside Press.

The middleweight pair were inducted into the Hall as part of the Class of 2025, going into the Fight Wing for their 2019 classic, which saw Adesanya capture a decision win to claim the UFC‘s interim middleweight title.

Adesanya, of course, would go on to unify the belt, defeating Robert Whittaker, and has had two reigns as middleweight champion. Speaking to Cageside Press during the UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, both men reflected on the fight itself.

For Adesanya, it wasn’t as life changing as you might think, but after watching the bout back, it was clearly a historic moment. “After being in the cage, I was just hungry. I wanted to eat, and wanted to sleep,” Adesanya recalled, downplaying the typical “life changing” clichés you hear after big fights. “But yeah, for me, after the fight, when you go back and look on it and realize what an amazing moment that was, and it was history in the making. And here we are now, about to cement ourselves in history with that fight.”

Of course, while fighting is an individual sport, teams are a crucial component, and Adesanya has had names like Alexander Volkanovski, Kai Kara-France, Carlos Ulberg and others along for the ride. “It takes a village, and all of us together, what is it? A rising tide lifts all ships. When we all rise, we shine.”

As for Kelvin Gastelum, he learned more about his opponent than about himself in the fight.

“Obviously I think we get better after a fight like that, but I think I learned more about him than I learned about me in that fight, for sure,” Gastelum told us. “We learned a lot about him and how he came out in that fifth round and really leveled up. We got to see just how deep he could go, so I got to know him a little bit better.”

Despite winning The Ultimate Fighter and going toe-to-toe with one of the greatest middleweights ever, Gastelum doesn’t feel the fans have changed their perspective about his prospects.

“I’ve still been the underdog in a few of my fights, and I think that’s just going to be the story of my career. You know what, I like being in that position. I like when my back’s up against the wall, when people are writing me off. I think that’s when I perform better.”

Watch our full interviews with Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum from the 2025 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony above.

The post Israel Adesanya, Kelvin Gastelum Reflect on UFC Hall of Fame Fight appeared first on Cageside Press.

Kerr will be part of the class of 2025, and is set to be enshrined in the Hall’s Pioneer Wing.

Promotion officials announced the honour during Saturday’s UFC 316 broadcast.

“Mark Kerr was a high-level wrestler who also fought for PRIDE and was one of the early pioneers of the sport,” said UFC President and CEO Dana White in a press release issued in conjunction with the announcement.

Kerr was an NCAA Division I wrestling champ for Oklahoma City in 1992, and would make his MMA debut in 97. He would post a 12-0, 1NC record to start his run as a professional fighter, winning the UFC 14 tournament in the process and notching a victory over Japanese legend Enson Inoue under the PRIDE banner. Kerr also won the UFC 15 tournament, putting him among an elite group of fighters to win multiple single-night tournament’s during the promotion’s early years.

During his time in PRIDE, the promotion was criticized for changing their ruleset to eliminate some of Kerr’s preferred techniques, including headbutts and knees to grounded opponents, in an effort to make his fights go longer.

The post Mark Kerr Headed to UFC Hall of Fame, Class of 2025 appeared first on Cageside Press.

It seems the promotion is placing a major emphasis on Hall of Fame recognition in 2025, with three inductees in as many pay-per-view events. That’s hardly a coincidence. As the UFC has faced criticism lately for hosting lackluster events, this move adds to the overall production value (but that’s a topic for another blog).

This raises the question: who should be next? And what exactly is the path to getting there? Also, why are some fighters still not in?

Criteria for UFC Hall of Fame Induction

There doesn’t appear to be a specific formula for induction, so for now, we’ll stick with patterns observed in past classes:

• Fighters must have a winning record (sorry, Tank Abbott fans).
• They should be influential in the development of the UFC or mixed martial arts as a whole.
• World championships and significant title reigns are often a key factor.

In terms of influence, the first bout between Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin is a prime example. Even though this was the pinnacle of Stephan’s career, his legendary fight with Forrest helped shape modern MMA, giving the industry a defining moment to build from.

It’s also rumored that being “on good terms” with the UFC is necessary for induction. However, the inductions of Don Frye and Tito Ortiz suggest otherwise—though we’ll revisit that topic later.

Frank Mir

Mir is a two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion, holding the record for the most submission victories in the division. With notable finishes over Tim Sylvia, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira (twice), and Brock Lesnar, Mir also showed exceptional longevity, with a UFC career spanning 15 years.

It’s a bit of a head-scratcher as to why he isn’t already in the UFC Hall of Fame. Some valid arguments could involve his unclear retirement status or his departure from the company. Regardless, this one isn’t a matter of “if,” but “when.”

Josh Barnett

Barnett is one of the most notable heavyweights in MMA history. After capturing UFC gold, he had a successful stint in Pride FC before returning for another run in the modern UFC era. Competing at a high level across two decades is no small feat.

However, his rocky relationship with the UFC—especially Dana White—and multiple failed drug tests may be what’s keeping him out of the UFC Hall of Fame.

Frank Shamrock

This one’s particularly interesting. Frank was the UFC’s first Light Heavyweight Champion (originally called the Middleweight Championship). He compiled a perfect 5-0 record in the promotion and defended his title four times.

His most notable bout was the instant classic against Tito Ortiz at UFC 22, where he defeated Tito via strikes. That fight alone deserves a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame’s Fight Wing. Shamrock was also one of the first fighters to showcase a truly well-rounded skill set, making him a pivotal figure in the sport’s early growth.

Unfortunately, Frank has a long-standing and very public feud with Dana White. He’s even gone as far as questioning the Hall of Fame’s integrity due to his exclusion—an act that some believe disrespects those already inducted. I don’t see Frank Shamrock getting in any time soon.

Conclusion

The UFC Hall of Fame will likely be a hot topic of discussion over the next year. As the conversation builds, casual fans will begin researching the legends of the sport to speculate on who’s next.

While the UFC has made amends with many former fighters over the years, it still appears that being cordial—or even friendly—with the UFC brass helps your chances. Unlike Major League Baseball, where a committee of sportswriters vote on inductees, the UFC has complete control over who gets in.

By the way… who is on that committee?

The post Three Fighters Who Should Be in the UFC Hall of Fame, But Are Not appeared first on Cageside Press.

Belfort will join the Pioneer Wing, the promotion announced during Saturday’s UFC 315 broadcast.

Belfort, who also won the UFC 12 heavyweight tournament, later captured the promotion’s light heavyweight title in in 2004, defeating fellow Hall of Fame member Randy Couture to do so. Though he’d lose the title in a rematch in his very next fight, between the one-night tournament win and claiming gold, Belfort had established himself as one of MMA’s biggest stars.

Leaving the UFC, the Brazilian would compete for PRIDE, Strikeforce, and Affliction among others before returning to the confines of the octagon in 2009. He’d challenge Anderson Silva for the promotion’s middleweight title in 2011, only to be knocked out by a highlight reel front kick. Still, success for Belfort piled up, as he put together wins over Michael Chandler, Luke Rockhold, and Dan Henderson before falling in another title bid in 2015, this time to Chris Weidman.

Vitor Belfort announced his retirement following a loss to Lyoto Machida in 2018, but earned wins over Evander Holyfield (exhibition) in 2021 and Jacare Souza in 2023 in the boxing realm.

“Vitor Belfort was 19 years when he was signed by UFC and he quickly made an impact by becoming the youngest athlete to win a UFC fight, and UFC tournament,” said UFC President & CEO Dana White in a press release issued in conjunction with the announcement. “Vitor was a pioneer of the sport and is definitely a UFC legend. It will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer.”

The post Vitor Belfort to Join UFC Hall of Fame appeared first on Cageside Press.