5 active UFC fighters who deserve to be inducted into the Hall of Fame

#2. Former UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor

Conor McGregor is arguably the most important fighter in the UFC. The brash Irishman has set many pay-per-view records which has led to plenty of mainstream exposure for the promotion. Despite not being regarded as the greatest of all time like his predecessors, there’s no denying his place in MMA history.

McGregor debuted in the promotion back in 2013 and quickly became a must-see attraction. His incredible knockouts and unmatched charisma propelled him to a title shot with then-featherweight champion Jose Aldo. He pulled off an upset by knocking out ‘Junior’ in only 13-seconds to end one of the promotion’s most dominant reigns.

After splitting wins with Nate Diaz at welterweight, ‘The Notorious’ defeated Eddie Alvarez by a second-round TKO to become the lightweight champion. His popularity also reached new heights when he fought Floyd Mayweather in a boxing match.

Although he was on the receiving end of a loss, McGregor brought more notoriety to both himself and the promotion. Therefore, his accomplishments as a fighter and contributions to the sport should guarantee him Hall of Fame status.

---

#1. Former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo

Since making his UFC debut, Jose Aldo has been one of the greatest champions in the promotion’s history. He was promoted as their inaugural featherweight champion following the WEC merger in 2010. From that moment, he defeated all the top contenders and established himself as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

‘Junior’ had a historic title reign that lasted from 2010-2015 that saw him defend his title seven times. His striking and vicious leg-kicks made him a force to be reckoned with at 145 lbs. He defeated a who’s who during his reign including Chad Mendes, Kenny Florian, and former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. Prior to losing his title to McGregor, he was on an 18-fight winning streak and was unbeaten in nine years.

‘The King of Rio’ has even found success at bantamweight. There were many questions of whether a move to 135 lbs would be detrimental to his career. But he has committed himself and looks rejuvenated competing at a lower weight class. Aldo’s longevity and resume should speak for itself and make his Hall of Fame induction inevitable.