5 UFC champions who deserve to be in the Hall of Fame

The UFC Hall of Fame (HOF) is a prestigious club comprising some of the best fighters to ever compete in the sport of MMA. It also consists of a select few non-fighters, specifically in the HOF's 'Contributors Wing,' honoring the role they play in the evolution and functioning of the UFC. The latest edition of the UFC HOF transpired on June 27, 2024, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

While many highly accomplished UFC fighters have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, there are some legends whose inductions are long overdue. Today, we look at a few such fighters, who also happen to be current or former UFC champions. They're crafty veterans who've cemented their legacies as all-time greats. They must be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, ideally in the near future.

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#5 Andrei Arlovski

Andrei Arlovski made his professional MMA debut way back in April 1999 and his UFC debut in November 2000. After a triumphant start to his UFC career, he suffered a pair of setbacks. Arlovski bounced back to eventually capture the interim UFC heavyweight title by defeating Tim Sylvia via first-round submission in February 2005.

'The Pit Bull' successfully defended the interim belt once and was later promoted to undisputed champion status, after which he successfully defended the UFC heavyweight title once. He then lost the UFC heavyweight belt to Sylvia in their rematch. Arlovski was defeated in their trilogy fight as well, albeit he did sort of avenge the losses years later in their infamous fight in One Championship.

Additionally, Arlovski proved his mettle by consistently fighting the top heavyweights in the world in the UFC, Affliction, EliteXC, Strikeforce, One Championship, and WSOF.

Arlovski (34 wins, 23 losses, 2 no contests), who's already competed in 41 UFC fights, fights Martin Buday at UFC 303 (June 29, 2024). It'll mark his 60th professional MMA bout.

The 45-year-old Belarusian-American heavyweight has beaten various fearsome heavyweights like Tim Sylvia, Fabricio Werdum, Ben Rothwell, Roy Nelson, Antonio 'Bigfoot' Silva, Travis Browne, Frank Mir, and Stefan Struve. 'The Pit Bull' has faced fighters from multiple generations and is still competing. His wins aside, the longevity alone calls for a UFC Hall of Fame induction.

#4 Frank Shamrock

Frank Shamrock won the inaugural UFC middleweight championship in December 1997. The middleweight title was eventually renamed as the UFC light heavyweight title after the organization adopted the Unified Rules of MMA in May 2001.

Shamrock notched four successful title defenses, but he vacated the title amid a bitter split from the UFC. He seemingly attributed the departure to the supposed lack of worthy opponents on the roster. Nevertheless, his tumultuous relationship with the UFC is believed to have been the biggest factor that took him away from the company.

Many fans feel that he should've been inducted into the Hall of Fame years ago. Ironically, the UFC HOF's first two inductees were Royce Gracie and his (Frank's) adopted brother Ken Shamrock. Granted that Ken and Gracie competed in the very first UFC event, but Frank is just as deserving of a HOF induction.

Frank Shamrock (23 wins, 10 losses, 2 draws) boasts victories over legends like Bas Rutten and Tito Ortiz and is a true MMA pioneer. Here's hoping that the retired MMA fighter buries the hatchet with the UFC and is inducted into the HOF.

#3 Holly Holm

Holly Holm amassed a record of 33 wins, 2 losses, 3 draws, and captured titles in three separate weight classes in professional boxing. She's counted among the greatest female boxers ever; with wins against Christy Martin, Mia St. John, and Anne Sophie Mathis. Of course, her legendary rivalry with the formidable Mathis reflects her ability to rise from devastating defeats.

The Albuquerque-based boxer and kickboxer achieved tremendous success in MMA, too. Holm holds the distinction of being the first, and thus far only, fighter (male or female) to win a major world title in the sports of both boxing and MMA. 'The Preacher's Daughter' accomplished that by knocking out the then-undefeated 'Rowdy' Ronda Rousey with the head kick heard around the world, winning the UFC women's bantamweight title in November 2015.

Holm (15 wins, 7 losses, 1 no contest -- MMA) also came extremely close to winning the inaugural UFC women's featherweight title in a controversial fight against fellow striking savant Germaine de Randamie in February 2017. With wins over Ronda Rousey, Raquel, Pennington, Megan Anderson, Irene Aldana, and many others, the 42-year-old UFC bantamweight is still an elite competitor in the promotion.

Holm's boxing and MMA accolades in mind, coupled with her longevity (not only in the UFC company but in her overall combat sports career!), surely warrant a UFC HOF spot.

#2 Jon Jones

Jon Jones made his professional MMA debut in April 2008 and UFC debut in August 2008. He's been in the UFC ever since and has forged a legacy as one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time. Jones still holds the record of being the youngest UFC champion, having beaten MMA icon Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua via third-round TKO to capture the UFC light heavyweight title in March 2011.

A virtually undefeated fighter, he's faced several legal issues and alleged PED use fiascos over the years. Regardless, he's never suffered a clear-cut defeat in a pro MMA contest and is a stellar fighter in all aspects of the sport. 'Bones' has out-struck exceptional strikers and out-grappled the scariest grapplers.

Moreover, after a three-year hiatus that ended in March 2023, he made his heavyweight divisional debut and captured the UFC heavyweight title with relative ease. The 36-year-old is the reigning UFC heavyweight champion and is expected to fight Stipe Miocic next, likely this November.

Some critics have underscored that his history of failed PED tests should disqualify him from competing in the sport, let alone being in the UFC Hall of Fame. However, one simply can't deny that Jones (27 wins, 1 loss, 1 no contest) possesses unparalleled skills and fight IQ that truly make him a once-in-a-lifetime fighter.

Having won titles in two divisions and beaten several legends -- such as Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua, Lyoto Machida, Vitor Belfort, Rashad Evans, and Daniel Cormier -- a Jones UFC HOF induction would be a no-brainer.

#1 Cris Cyborg

Cris Cyborg is the only fighter who's captured world titles in multiple major MMA organizations. The Brazilian-American MMA icon won the women's featherweight championship in Strikeforce, Invicta FC, UFC, and Bellator. She's presently the Bellator women's featherweight champion. Following the PFL's acquisition of Bellator in 2023, she's been at odds with the PFL and PFL-owned Bellator.

Many have been calling for the 38-year-old to return to the UFC, possibly for the long-awaited dream matchup against Kayla Harrison. Unfortunately, Cyborg's relationship with the UFC organization, particularly with UFC CEO Dana White, has been turbulent, to say the least.

Regardless, Cyborg (27 wins, 2 losses, 1 no contest) is a bona fide MMA legend. Her past PED test failure notwithstanding, she most definitely deserves to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame. She's a truly well-rounded fighter, who's a women's MMA pioneer and has also competed in boxing, kickboxing, and submission grappling.

Cyborg boasts wins over legendary fighters from different eras altogether including the likes of Gina Carano, Holly Holm, and Cat Zingano. Cyborg recently indicated that she's fighting Larissa Pacheco in a Bellator vs. PFL showdown next, albeit it isn't officially confirmed yet. Perhaps she and the UFC could resolve their differences and precipitate her much-deserved HOF induction.