Vitor Belfort Inducted Into UFC Hall of Fame as Pioneer

Las Vegas, NV – Former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort will be inducted into the 2025 Class of the UFC Hall of Fame as a Pioneer, UFC® announced on May 11, 2025. The induction ceremony is set for June 26 during the 13th Annual UFC International Fight WeekÔ at T-Mobile Arena and will be streamed live on UFC FIGHT PASS®.

UFC President Dana White praised Belfort’s impact on the sport, noting he was just 19 when he was signed. “Vitor was a pioneer of the sport and is definitely a UFC legend. It will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer,” White said.

Belfort becomes the 20th member of the Pioneer Era Wing, which recognizes fighters who turned professional before 2000 and are now at least 35 years old or retired for more than a year. He recorded an impressive 26-14, 1 NC over 41 fights in a 22-year MMA career.

He first made waves in the UFC by winning the heavyweight tournament at UFC® 12 on February 7, 1997, knocking out two opponents in the first round. His notable victories include Hall of Famers such as Wanderlei Silva, Randy Couture, and Michael Bisping.

His career highlights include capturing the UFC light heavyweight title from Couture in 2004, though he later lost it to Couture in a rematch. Belfort’s abilities led to a record of 18 knockouts, with 15 occurring in the first round.

Following his UFC tenure, he competed in various promotions and even in boxing, further solidifying his legacy. His final fight was on May 12, 2018, where he retired after losing to Lyoto Machida. Belfort is also an accomplished author and continues to influence the sport.

With a rich history and numerous accolades, Belfort’s induction into the Hall of Fame is a fitting recognition of his contributions to mixed martial arts.