Predicting the Next 10 MMA Fighters to Get Inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame

Only the best combatants in the world are bestowed with the honor of UFC Hall of Fame glory, thus seating them for all eternity, in the realm of MMA eminence.

Their achievements have been recognized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship for services rendered during a period where more times than not they’ve overcome adversity to stand head and shoulders above their peers.

Such distinguished figures as Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn, Randy Couture, Mark Coleman, Chuck Liddell and Matt Hughes have all been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

With that said, who will be next batch of warriors to take their places alongside the aforementioned greats?

10. Mirko Filipović

“Crop Cop” a former Croatian Special Forces operative is now a retired mixed martial artist.

He recently hung up his gloves after registering his sixth defeat in 10 matches for the UFC.

Prior to that, the kickboxing specialist was a runaway train in the now defunct Japanese promotion Pride FC, where he won the 2006 Pride World Grand Prix Open Weight Championship by defeating Josh Barnett.

In his tenure there, he recorded 17 wins, with 12 coming by way of stoppage, he also possessed pulverising kicks (most notably to the head) which he used to great efficacy—Igor Vovchanchyn, Alexander Emelianenko and Wanderlei Silva were just some of the recipients.

Cro Cop's record might not be great in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, but his overall record (27-10-2-1NC MMA) and the competition he’s faced, suggests he has to be in with a shout for the next induction into the UFC’s Hall of Fame.

9. Mauricio Rua

Another former Pride elitist is Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, not only did he win the 2005 Pride Grand Prix middleweight championship, he also captured the UFC light heavyweight title by knocking out Lyoto Machida.

Even though he’s 4-4 in the UFC at present, it’s his time in Pride that really grabs the attention—one loss in 13 outings with 10 via stoppages.

The names associated with those victories were Quinton Jackson, Antônio “Little Nog” Rogério Nogueira, Alistair Overeem (twice) and Kevin Randleman.

Whilst in the UFC he defeated the likes of Mark Coleman, Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin.

Shogun, (20-6 MMA) an accomplished jiu-jitsu practitioner as well as Muay Thai expert, wears his heart on his sleeve as was evidenced in his last bout against Dan Henderson at UFC 139.

He makes the cut, so he should also make the trip to Ultimate Fighting Championship’s Hall of Fame when the next votes are in.

8. Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira

The twin brother of Antonio Rogério Nogueira, “Minotauro” was the first Pride FC heavyweight champion and compiled an impressive record of 21-3-1NC for the Japanese outfit.

Two of those losses were to MMA great Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko and the other to Josh “The Warmaster” Barnet whom he would later defeat in a rematch.

His most notable wins came against Valentijn Overeem (twice) Heath Herring (thrice), Mark Coleman, Dan Henderson, Mirko Filipović, Fabricio Werdum, Tim Sylvia and Randy Couture.

A Brazilian jiu-jitsu aficionado, Big Nog has a total of 20 submissions in his 33 victories.

He is also a former UFC Interim heavyweight titlist.

At present, he’s 4-3 in the UFC following his recent loss to Frank Mir at UFC 140.

That notwithstanding, Minotauro (33-7-1-1NC MMA) is a both a Pride and MMA legend for the ages and has to be escorted into the UFC Hall of Fame the next time around.

7. Wanderlei Silva

“The Axe Murderer” (34-11-1-1NC MMA, 5-5 UFC) is one of the most devastating and destructive instruments that has ever graced the MMA stage.

His punching power and violent knee attacks from his favored Muay Thai clinch are legendary—Quinton “Rampage” Jackson can attest to that, not once but twice.

Silva's a legend from his Pride FC’s days and holds the record for most stoppages in the now defunct Japanese organization—15 in 28 matchups.

Though the former Pride FC middleweight champion was violence personified, he was on occasion, on the receiving end of his brutal mantra—he suffered concussive KOs against Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipović, Dan Henderson, Rampage and Chris “The Crippler” Leben.

With a record of 3-4, Silva’s third stint in the UFC hasn’t been eventful, however, The Axe Murder has earned his pass to the UFC Hall of Fame and should be one of the next inductees.

6. Dan Henderson

He is a former Pride FC welterweight and middleweight champion and most recently relinquished the Strikeforce light heavyweight crown to return to the UFC fold.

“Hendo” is also an accomplished Greco-Roman wrestler with a destructive right fist, aptly named the “H-Bomb” which has rendered some of his opponents unconscious.

2011 was a great year for the NCAA Division-I wrestler—he knocked out Fedor Emelianenko, one the greatest heavyweights in world MMA and won the Bazzie Award for Fight of Year in his bout with Mauricio Rua at UFC 139.

At almost 42-years-old, Henderson (29-8 MMA, 6-2 UFC) is nearing the end of his illustrious career—he wants one last shot at UFC glory, whether he prevails or not, he’s sure as hell on the next waiting list to be ushered into the UFC Hall of Fame.

5. Quinton Jackson

Having contended for nearly 12 years as a professional mixed martial artist, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson will go down in history as an all-time great.

He first garnered attention in Pride FC, winning 12 of his 17 fights for the organization.

Of his five losses, two came via brutal stoppage, courtesy of his nemesis one Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva.

Nevertheless, he would inflict a similar fate on the aforementioned Pride legend when they locked horns back in the UFC.

Rampage is also a former UFC light heavyweight champion and the first fighter to unify the UFC and Pride FC belts, the latter which was held by Dan Henderson.

His most notable wins came against Chuck Liddell (twice), Ricardo Arona (KO via body slam), Henderson, Silva and Lyoto Machida.

With 41 career fights (7-3 UFC) and all his accomplishments, Rampage has definitely paid his dues and thus is a forerunner for the next UFC Hall of Famers.

4. BJ Penn

A UFC two-division titlist, one of only two to achieve that feat (the other being Randy Couture) “The Prodigy” is widely regarded as one the greatest combatants of his era.

He’s fought the who’s who of the lightweight and welterweight divisions—Matt Hughes (thrice), Georges St. Pierre (twice), Jens Pulver (twice), Frankie Edgar, (twice) Takanori Gomi, Sean Sherk, Kenny Florian, Jon Fitch and Nick Diaz.

Though not always on the winning side, he more than proved without fail that he possessed the heart of a lion.

Following his defeat to Diaz at UFC 137, he subsequently retired, though that didn’t last long as he seems to want back in the MMA mix.

Whatever the case may be, BJ Penn (16-8-2 MMA, 12-7-2) is a lock for the next call up to the UFC’s Hall of Fame.

3. Georges St. Pierre

One of the best all-around athletes in mixed martial arts, Georges “Rush” St. Pierre had his first shot at UFC gold coldly ripped from his grasp by current Hall of Famer Matt Hughes at UFC 50.

Nevertheless, two years later, in 2006, St. Pierre (22-2 MMA, 16-2 UFC) would avenge that defeat and crush his idol in the process.

Though he lost the title in his first defense against Matt Serra, he went on to recapture it a year later.

From that point on, St. Pierre has reigned supreme at the apogee of the welterweight division whilst successfully defending the title six times.

He’s a top 10 candidate for the next list of fighters to the UFC Hall of Fame.

2. Anderson Silva

Initially, “The Spider” plied his trade all over the globe—from Brazil to Japan and England, before he finally found his calling at the gates of the Octagon back in June of 2008.

It was there on his UFC debut that he dismantled Chris “The Crippler” Leben in 49 seconds flat.

That was the beginning of the Silva era— first capturing the crown in only his second fight for the Zuffa-based promotion, he went on to almost single-handedly wreck the entire 185-lb assemblage.

Currently he’s riding a 15-fight winning streak in the Ultimate Fighting Championship with a record nine title defenses to boot.

The doors of UFC Hall of Fame will be overly ajar when the matrix-esque phenom that is Anderson Silva answers the next roll call.

1. Tito Ortiz

Tito Ortiz (16-10-1 MMA, 15-10-1 UFC) is set to cap a storied career with one last throw of the dice when he steps into the Octagon supposedly later this year.

“The People's Champ” is a former UFC 205-lb titlist.

After Ken Shamrock, the then UFC middleweight champion (later renamed the light heavyweight division) retired, Ortiz was pitted against Wanderlei Silva at UFC 25 for the vacated belt.

He captured the title via unanimous decision and then went on to defend it a record five-times, a feat that has not been surpassed since.

Ortiz’s name should be at the forefront of the passage to the UFC Hall of Fame.

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