Vitor Belfort gets inducted into the 2025 UFC Hall of Fame after a long and fruitful career in the world of MMA!
UFC has seen many legends, but few have left a mark as deep as Vitor Belfort. Remember the early days when UFC was just finding its feet? A young Brazilian with lightning-fast hands was already turning heads. That teenager was Vitor Belfort. Now, decades later, the UFC has decided to honor him. They announced it at the UFC 315 fights. Belfort will join the prestigious UFC Hall of Fame as part of the 2025 class. The ceremony is set for June 26 during International Fight Week in Las Vegas.
Belfort’s journey in UFC began when most of the young fans were still figuring out life. At just 19, he stepped into the octagon for the first time at UFC 12. The year was 1997. Back then, UFC wasn’t the global phenomenon it is today. But Belfort was already showing signs of greatness. His early career was nothing short of spectacular. He won his first six fights in the first round. Four of those wins came in under a minute. That kind of dominant start made everyone in the MMA world take notice of the young Brazilian.
Also Read: UFC 315: Benoit Saint Denis vs Kyle Prepolec Head To Head Comparison, Tale Of The Tape And More
Belfort’s list of achievements reads like a dream MMA career. After beating Wanderlei Silva at UFC – Ultimate Brazil in 1998, he explored other fighting territories. He joined PRIDE FC in Japan, adding more wins to his growing reputation. When he returned to UFC in 2002, he was a more complete fighter. The following year brought him his first UFC championship.
He defeated Randy Couture for the light heavyweight title at UFC 46: Supernatural. Though the win came from an unusual eye cut to Couture, Belfort had reached the top of the mountain.
Throughout his career, Belfort faced the who’s who of MMA greats. He traded blows with legends like Jon Jones and Anderson Silva. He also fought Anthony Johnson, Michael Bisping, Luke Rockhold, and Dan Henderson. Bisping lost his eye in the fight against Belfort. These weren’t just fights. They were battles that helped shape the sport’s history. For many years, Belfort held the record for most knockouts in UFC history. His left hand became one of the most feared weapons in the octagon.
Like many long careers, Belfort’s wasn’t without controversy. His use of Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) raised many eyebrows. Many fans and fighters questioned if this gave him an unfair advantage. This period saw some of Belfort’s most devastating knockouts. When TRT was banned from the sport, Belfort’s performance noticeably changed. His final UFC chapter was less stellar. He won just two of his last seven fights before leaving after UFC 224 in May 2018.
Despite the controversies, Belfort’s impact on the sport is undeniable. From his debut as a teenager to his final bout at 41, he gave everything to the fans. He competed in three different decades and across multiple weight classes.
Belfort joins an impressive 2025 Hall of Fame class. Robbie Lawler enters the Modern Wing with him. Craig Piligian joins the Contributor Wing. The epic battle between Israel Adesanya and Kelvin Gastelum gets honored in the Fight Wing. Together, they represent some of the best moments in UFC history. The ceremony will take place during a packed International Fight Week.
(Image Credit: Jason Silva – Imagn Images)
mma
