The UFC Hall of Fame has come a long way since Ken Shamrock and Royce Gracie became its inaugural members in 2003. Its expansion into the Pioneer, Modern, Fight, and Contributor wings created more ways to recognize the people and moments that helped shape the promotion.
Some overdue additions have finally received their recognition. Jens Pulver, who appeared on the original version of this list, entered the Pioneer Wing in 2023. Anderson Silva joined him that same year. Yet several deserving names and memorable fights remain outside their respective wings.
From a foundational champion to one of the voices most associated with the Octagon, these five additions would help tell a more complete story of the UFC.
Frank Shamrock (Pioneer Wing)
Accomplishments include the inaugural UFC light heavyweight championship and four successful title defenses
Ken Shamrock helped introduce MMA to a generation of fans, but Frank Shamrock built a championship résumé that deserves recognition of its own.
Shamrock made his UFC debut in 1997 against Olympic wrestling gold medalist Kevin Jackson. He needed just 16 seconds to submit Jackson and capture the inaugural championship in what was then called the middleweight division, later renamed light heavyweight. It remains one of the most emphatic introductions a UFC champion has ever made.
He followed that victory with four successful title defenses, finishing his UFC run by defeating Tito Ortiz in 1999. Shamrock then vacated the championship and stepped away from the promotion with a perfect 5-0 UFC record. His later career included championship victories in WEC and Strikeforce, further demonstrating that his success extended beyond one organization.
But his UFC accomplishments alone make a compelling case. Shamrock established the championship lineage that generations of light heavyweights would pursue. He also showed how effective a well-rounded fighter could be as the sport evolved beyond its early clashes of individual disciplines. The Pioneer Wing should recognize that contribution.
Frank Mir (Modern Wing)
Accomplishments include the UFC heavyweight championship and interim UFC heavyweight championship
Frank Mir’s UFC career combined championship success, devastating submissions, and a comeback that once seemed unlikely.
In 2004, Mir submitted Tim Sylvia to win the vacant heavyweight championship. A motorcycle accident later that year threatened his career and ultimately cost him the title. His return was difficult, but victories over Brock Lesnar and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in 2008 brought him back to the top of the division. The latter earned him the interim heavyweight championship.
Mir’s finishing ability helped distinguish him in a division often associated with knockout power. He could end a fight against another elite heavyweight from positions that appeared dangerous for him. In his 2011 rematch with Nogueira, Mir survived serious trouble before reversing the fight and becoming the first man to submit the Brazilian legend.
Winning UFC gold again after a career-threatening accident makes Mir’s accomplishments even more impressive. He helped define multiple eras of the UFC heavyweight division, producing memorable wins against some of its biggest names. That body of work deserves a place in the Modern Wing.
Anderson Silva vs. Forrest Griffin (Fight Wing)
UFC 101 — August 8, 2009
Anderson Silva already has his place in the Pioneer Wing, but his performance against Forrest Griffin deserves separate consideration.
Silva entered UFC 101 as the reigning middleweight champion, moving up to face a former light heavyweight champion. Griffin had beaten Shogun Rua and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson before losing his title to Rashad Evans. His size, credentials, and willingness to push the action made him a compelling test.
Silva made the matchup look anything but competitive. He slipped punches at close range, dropped Griffin repeatedly, and finished him with a right hand as he moved backward. The fight lasted just 3:23, producing one of the defining images of Silva at his peak.
The case for induction rests on that historical significance. The Fight Wing has room to celebrate performances that changed perceptions of what a fighter could do. Against an accomplished opponent from a heavier division, Silva displayed a level of timing and control that seemed almost impossible. Few fights capture his greatness so clearly.
Dan Henderson (Pioneer Wing)
Accomplishments include the UFC 17 middleweight tournament, championships in two PRIDE divisions, and the Strikeforce light heavyweight championship
Dan Henderson is already a UFC Hall of Famer through his first fight with Shogun Rua. Their UFC 139 classic entered the Fight Wing in 2018, but Henderson’s individual career deserves recognition in the Pioneer Wing as well.
Henderson won the UFC 17 middleweight tournament in 1998 before building much of his legacy in PRIDE. There, he became a simultaneous two-division champion and defeated opponents including Wanderlei Silva, Renzo Gracie, and Murilo Bustamante. His success across weight classes made him one of the most accomplished fighters of his generation.
His later career added plenty to that résumé. Henderson delivered an unforgettable knockout of Michael Bisping at UFC 100, captured the Strikeforce light heavyweight championship, and stopped Fedor Emelianenko. He continued competing in the UFC until retiring in 2016 at 46.
Honoring the Rua fight recognizes one extraordinary night. An individual induction would recognize the years of championship success, longevity, and willingness to face elite opponents across divisions that made Henderson’s career exceptional.
Mike Goldberg (Contributor Wing)
UFC play-by-play commentator from 1997 to 2016
For a generation of fans, Mike Goldberg’s voice was part of the UFC experience.
Goldberg made his promotional debut at Ultimate Japan in 1997 and spent nearly two decades calling fights. Alongside Joe Rogan, he provided the soundtrack to championship changes, breakout performances, and many of the moments that helped turn the UFC into a global attraction. His final broadcast came at UFC 207 in December 2016.
His enthusiasm was unmistakable. The call of “It’s all over!” became closely associated with a UFC finish, giving fans a familiar voice through years of change inside and outside the Octagon.
The Contributor Wing offers a place to recognize that kind of lasting influence. Goldberg helped make UFC broadcasts feel familiar as the audience grew. His place in the promotion’s history deserves acknowledgment alongside the athletes whose biggest moments he called.
