A new format will allow more people—both in and out of the cage—to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
UFC leaders also announced Tuesday that a physical building is in development to house their hall. MMAJunkie.com reported the announcement.
The new format will take effect July 11, when the UFC will also induct its new class.
UFC Hall of Fame Inducts 2015 Class Scheduled for July 11 at UFC Fan Expo 2015. Story: http://t.co/5550oHzsGj pic.twitter.com/ZhFfWkW1aJ
— UFC News (@UFCNews) May 5, 2015
The UFC Hall of Fame inducted its first class (Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock) in 2003 and has somewhat sporadically brought in a total of 12 people since it began. The new system will provide more structure as well as more chances for non-fighters and fights themselves to be individually considered.
There are now four distinct categories for inclusion: modern-era fighters (those who debuted after Nov. 17, 2000), pioneer-era fighters (those who debuted before that date), contributors (those who "made significant contributions outside of active competition") and a fight wing for "the greatest and most important bouts" in UFC history.
The 2000 date is significant because it was the date when the UFC adopted the current unified rules of mixed martial arts. Zuffa also purchased the UFC around this time.
The UFC will make the selections each year, with UFC President Dana White leading the panel.
Though there are no concrete plans for the brick-and-mortar location, it will be in Las Vegas, according to the report.
Inductees to date include:
- Royce Gracie
- Ken Shamrock
- Dan Severn
- Randy Couture
- Mark Coleman
- Chuck Liddell
- Charles “Mask” Lewis Jr. (only non-fighter to be inducted to date)
- Matt Hughes
- Tito Ortiz
- Forrest Griffin
- Stephan Bonnar (inducted to honor significance of Griffin-Bonnar I fight in 2005)
- Pat Miletich
Each of these inductees, according to the report, will be retroactively inducted into the appropriate category.
It will be interesting to see which fighters and fights the UFC panel inducts, including how it addresses known performance-enhancing drug users and non-UFC figures.
