10 Current Fighters That Should Be a Lock for the UFC Hall of Fame

A Hall of Fame induction is not an honor freely given (except induction into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame), the UFC Hall of Fame not excepted.  

There is not room for every elite competitor who has ever put on a pair of gloves, nor space for every man who has happened upon UFC gold. 

Indeed, the UFC Hall of Fame is a (metaphorical) pantheon built to immortalize those who have made greatness in others look ordinary by comparison. Those who should never be mistaken for "just elite" or "just important." 

Tito Ortiz became the latest man to earn a spot in the promotion's Hall of Fame, but he is not the only fighter that has competed in 2012 who will have that honor.

The following is a list of 10 UFC fighters who will follow in Ortiz's footsteps once it is all said and done.

As a brief note on criteria for the list, fighters have been given consideration based upon their accomplishments as UFC fighters, not mixed martial artists. In other words, accomplishments earned in any promotion aside from the UFC do not factor in.

After all, this is the UFC Hall of Fame, not the MMA Hall of Fame.

Jose Aldo

Aldo is 3-0 as a UFC fighter. Is that good enough to make it to the Hall of Fame? Of course not. But he is just getting started.

At just 25 years of age Aldo has become one of the most dominant champions the UFC has ever produced.

It would be ludicrous to expect smooth sailing for the next 10 years, but the chances of Aldo leaving a lasting impact on MMA and the UFC are considerable. 

Sure, he'll have to accomplish more than what he has to this point to be a lock for the Hall of Fame, but he's a lock to accomplish what he needs to in order to win the honor.

Thus, by the transitive property, Aldo is a lock to make it to the UFC Hall of Fame.

Accolades and Accomplishments

First ever UFC featherweight champion

Extremely high knockout rate, especially at 145 pounds

Celebrating with the crowd after defeating Chad Mendes in Brazil produces an iconic moment for the UFC

Vitor Belfort

Belfort debuted in the UFC to much fanfare as a 19-year-old, scoring a 1:17 TKO over Tra Telligman. On that same night, Belfort would go on to win the UFC 12 heavyweight tournament.

Mind you, this was in 1997.

Fast forward to today, Belfort remains a top contender in the UFC.

Granted, Belfort's presence in the UFC was not uninterrupted—indeed, his time with the promotion has included two extended exiles.

But still, Belfort's impact on the early days of the UFC, combined with his relevance today and victories over legendary mixed martial artists like Randy Couture and Wanderlei Silva, will ensure Belfort a place in the Hall of Fame.

Accolades and Accomplishments

UFC 12 heavyweight tournament winner and former light heavyweight champion

Became the youngest fighter to record a win inside the Octagon as a 19-year-old

Coach on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil

Dominick Cruz

Like Aldo, Cruz has some work to do if he hopes to end up in the UFC Hall of Fame.

Also like Aldo, Cruz's place on this list is based on a well-founded assumption that he will do just that.

Cruz is currently on an injury-induced hiatus, but remains the undisputed UFC bantamweight champion. He also holds court as the undisputed top 135-pounder on the planet.

At just 26 years of age, Cruz has plenty of time to make an impact in the UFC. 

Accolades and Accomplishments

First ever UFC bantamweight champion

Rivalry (and TUF gig) with Urijah Faber has helped to put the smaller weight classes on the map 

Unique and exciting style that defines him as a fighter

Rich Franklin

This one might earn some groans, but the chances are pretty good that Franklin ends up in the UFC Hall of Fame.

Franklin is a former middleweight champion who was quite dominant during his reign, which ended when a certain Mr. Silva came to town. 

Though he lost his place as king of the hill nearly six years ago, Franklin continues to fight against top competition in meaningful contests even to this day.

Throw in that he has always been the prototypical "company man," has been an ambassador for the sport and has coached The Ultimate Fighter, and Franklin is a shoo-in for the honor.

Accolades and Accomplishments

Former middleweight champion

Strong ambassador for MMA and the UFC

Solid knockout highlight reel

Forrest Griffin

There are many fighters more talented than Griffin that will never so much as garner brief consider for entry into the Hall of Fame, but that honor is grasped by achieving, not potential.

A 15-fight UFC veteran, Griffin has been a part of several iconic UFC moments over the course of his career. In fact, the slugfest between Griffin and Stephan Bonnar at The Ultimate Fighter Finale is often considered to be the most important MMA fight of all-time.

But Griffin's inevitable induction is not base purely on his role in making mixed martial arts popular with a wider audience. On the contrary, Griffin is a former light heavyweight champion and has tussled with countless legends during his UFC tenure.

Griffin also wins points for writing what is likely the best MMA book of all-time, being wildly popular and sending Tito Ortiz into retirement while simultaneously clinching victory in a six-year fight trilogy.

Accolades and Accomplishments

Won what is often considered to be the most important fight in MMA history

First ever Ultimate Fighter champion (an honor shared with Diego Sanchez)

Former light heavyweight champion

Jon Jones

Though just 24 years old, Jones has already become one of the best fighters on the planet. He is also very quickly becoming one of the most recognizable names in mixed martial arts. 

Still undefeated outside of a disqualification loss to Matt Hamill, Jones has become the most dominant champion to rule the 205-pound weight division since Chuck Liddell.

There is little doubt that Jones will do enough over the coming decade to solidify his place in the pantheon of UFC greats.

It may not be for many years, but it will happen.

Accolades and Accomplishments

UFC light heavyweight champion

On his way to becoming one of the most successful and dominant fighters to ever grace the Octagon

First fighter to be sponsored by the UFC

Frank Mir

A former champion, Mir has been a staple of the heavyweight elite for nearly 11 years. The only disruption during that time-frame is from 2004-2006, when Mir suffered career-threatening injuries in a motorcycle accident.

Beyond holding UFC gold on two occasions, Mir will be remembered for his feud with Brock Lesnar, being the first fighter to knockout Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, being the first fighter to submit Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, coaching The Ultimate Fighter and always hanging around the top of the heavyweight ladder.

Mir also remains one of the best heavyweight grapplers to have ever fought in the UFC.

Accolades and Accomplishments

Former heavyweight and interim heavyweight champion

Headlined UFC 100

Formed half of one of MMA's most epic feuds, opposite Brock Lesnar

B.J. Penn

Penn is a former two-division champion who is often regarded as one of the most talented and fearless fighters of all-time.

His willingness to fight anyone at any weight class has led Penn into feuds with a whose-who list of UFC greats. Multiple fights against Jens Pulver, Frankie Edgar, Georges St-Pierre and Matt Hughes all make it pretty difficult for any MMA fan to forget about the Prodigy.

A legend of Hawaii, Penn is one of the UFC's most iconic fighters to have ever set foot inside the Octagon.

Accolades and Accomplishments

Dethroned Matt Hughes at the height of his legend

Former multi-division champion

Coached The Ultimate Fighter

Anderson Silva

Silva is a lock to make the UFC Hall of Fame.

In other news, the sky is blue, winters in Siberia are cold and Keira Knightley is pleasant to look at.

Silva has won fights in two weight classes, became middleweight champion after his second fight in the UFC and holds promotional records for both the longest win streak and most consecutive title defenses.

Additionally, Silva has earned himself the reputation for being the best striker to have ever competed in the UFC and has compiled an impressive highlight reel to back it up. 

Accolades and Accomplishments

Considered by most (including UFC president Dana White) to be the best fighter in the world

Statistically the most dominant champion in UFC history

Undefeated in the UFC

Georges St-Pierre

But for one hiccup against Matt Serra, St-Pierre would sit right alongside Anderson Silva as the UFC's most dominant champion of all-time.

Even with that loss, St-Pierre deserves recognition as one of the best fighters, and champions, in UFC history.

But despite his standing as one of the best there ever was, St-Pierre is a lock for the UFC Hall of Fame for more than what he has accomplished inside the Octagon.

GSP has won Canadian Athlete of the Year honors on multiple occasions, is currently the most recognizable name in the sport and will forever be identified with the  "new breed" of mixed martial artist.

Accolades and Accomplishments

Often regarded as the greatest welterweight champion in UFC history

The most recognizable fighter in all of MMA today

16-2 UFC record coming against top competition

Possible Inductees, but Not Locks

The following is a handful of fighters who have a solid chance of making it into the UFC Hall of Fame, but are not locks.

Junior Dos Santos

Frankie Edgar

Rashad Evans

Dan Henderson

Sean Sherk

Chael Sonnen (for the hype he was wrought)

Cain Velasquez

And if UFC fighters could make it based on their accomplishments in other promotions bonded with Zuffa, the following would be locks.

Urijah Faber (WEC)

Dan Henderson (Pride)

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pride)

Mauricio Rua (Pride)

Wanderlei Silva (Pride)

Miguel Torres (WEC)