Particle.news
Download on the App Store
3 ARTICLES
·
last wk.

Vitor Belfort to Be Inducted into UFC Hall of Fame Pioneer Era Wing

The former light heavyweight champion and MMA trailblazer will be honored during the induction ceremony on June 26 in Las Vegas.

Ultimate Fighting Championship - UFC 224 - Vitor Belfort v Lyoto Machida - Jeunesse Arena, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - May 12, 2018 Vitor Belfort of Brazil and compatriot Lyoto Machida in action. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes/File Photo
Image
Image

Overview

  • Vitor Belfort will join the UFC Hall of Fame as the 20th member of the Pioneer Era Wing, recognizing fighters who turned professional before November 2000.
  • The induction ceremony is scheduled for June 26, 2025, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
  • Belfort, known as 'The Phenom,' made his professional MMA debut at age 19 in 1996 and quickly rose to prominence by winning the UFC 12 heavyweight tournament in 1997.
  • His career highlights include victories over legends such as Wanderlei Silva, Randy Couture, Michael Bisping, and Luke Rockhold, along with title challenges against Anderson Silva and Jon Jones.
  • While celebrated for his explosive fighting style, Belfort's legacy is also marked by controversy, including his legal use of testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT) in 2013, which led to regulatory changes in the sport.