MMA legend Vitor Belfort will be immortalized in the UFC Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 class, officially announced during the UFC 315 broadcast on Saturday night in Montreal. The 48-year-old was present at the Bell Centre to mark the occasion, which will culminate in an induction ceremony scheduled for June 28 in Las Vegas.
Belfort is being honored in the Hall of Fame’s Pioneer Wing, a category reserved for trailblazing athletes whose careers significantly shaped the early eras of mixed martial arts.
Over the course of 26 UFC appearances across several stints, Belfort earned a reputation as one of the sport’s most dangerous strikers. Known for his blistering hand speed and knockout power, “The Phenom” fought for a UFC title five times and claimed the light heavyweight championship at UFC 46 with a win over Randy Couture. That victory, however, was clouded by controversy, as it came via doctor stoppage due to a cut. Couture later avenged the loss in their immediate rematch.
While Belfort competed for multiple major promotions—including PRIDE and Affliction—it was in the UFC where he truly became a global star. He faced some of the sport’s most dominant champions, including Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, and Chris Weidman, all in title fights. Throughout his storied career, he delivered highlight-reel knockouts over elite names such as Dan Henderson, Michael Bisping, Wanderlei Silva, Luke Rockhold, and Rich Franklin.
Belfort’s rise began at just 19 years old, when he stormed onto the UFC scene in 1997. He won the heavyweight tournament at UFC 12 in emphatic fashion, dispatching both of his opponents in a combined two minutes. He followed that performance with a 52-second demolition of Tank Abbott at UFC 13, cementing his reputation as a breakout phenom.
His induction places him among an elite group of pioneers, joining the likes of Anderson Silva, Matt Hughes, Chuck Liddell, Wanderlei Silva, and Randy Couture.
Also set to be honored at the June 28 event are two-division champion Amanda Nunes and former welterweight king Robbie Lawler (Modern Wing), the epic UFC 236 interim title fight between Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum (Fight Wing), and longtime UFC producer Craig Piligian (Contributor Wing).
