UFC Hall of Fame ceremony: Who, what, where, when?
An annual tradition of International Fight Week alongside a heavily-promoted and usually stacked UFC pay-per-view card is the UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
And this year's ceremony, which takes place on Thursday, July 6, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, will feature quite possibly its most stacked induction class yet.
The 2023 UFC Hall of Fame ceremony will air at 10 pm ET/7 pm PT exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.
Those in the Las Vegas metropolitan area interested in attending the 2023 UFC Hall of Fame ceremony in person can purchase tickets through AXS here. Doors open at 6 pm PT.
Everything you need to know about the 2023 UFC Hall of Fame: Who are the inductees?
Joining the Hall of Fame's Pioneer Wing will be former longtime UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and inaugural and former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver.
Silva joined the UFC in 2006 and quickly picked up the UFC middleweight championship, which he defended 10 times, a UFC record that stood until Demetrious Johnson's 11th flyweight title defense. Silva currently holds several UFC records including the longest title reign, most middleweight title fights (and title fight victories) and the most finishes, knockdowns and knockouts in UFC title fights.
Pulver became the inaugural UFC lightweight champion with a win over Caol Uno at UFC 30 and defended the belt against Dennis Hallman and B.J. Penn.
Meanwhile, joining the Modern Wing will be two legendary fan favorites who wrapped up their careers over the past year — Jose Aldo and Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone.
After winning the featherweight championship in the WEC, Aldo came into the UFC as the inaugural champion, defending the title in seven straight fights. Aldo went unbeaten in MMA for nearly a decade before his loss to Conor McGregor at the end of 2015. Aldo then defeated Frankie Edgar at UFC 200 to become interim featherweight champion and later got promoted to a second undisputed title reign.
Aldo has since transitioned into a boxing career, starting 2-0-1, winning his most recent bout on July 2.
One of the greatest UFC fighters to never win a championship, Cerrone was beloved for his tough nature, willing to take on anyone and always willing to step up on short notice. Cerrone at one point had the most wins and finishes in UFC history, and he currently holds the third-most UFC bouts and finishes ever. Cerrone has the most knockdowns in UFC currently with 20, and his runs in the UFC and WEC give him currently the most bouts and wins in Zuffa history.
In addition, on the weekend of his own retirement fight, Robbie Lawler will be inducted into the Fight Wing of the UFC Hall of Fame alongside Rory MacDonald in recognition of their legendary welterweight title fight from UFC 189. Lawler won the 2015 fight in a comeback fifth-round finish.
The Nogueira brothers (Antonio Rodrgio ["Big Nog"] and Antonio Rogerio ["Lil Nog"] will receive the Forrest Griffin Community Award during the ceremony in recognition of their charity work throughout their native Brazil.
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