Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman is officially headed to the UFC Hall of Fame, and he's bringing a legendary voice from the sport's media world along with him.
The promotion announced during last weekend's UFC 328 broadcast in New Jersey that Weidman, now 41 years old, will be inducted into the "Modern Wing" this July. Known as "The All American," Weidman hung up his gloves after a loss to Erky Anders at UFC 310 in late 2024, but his place in history was already secure.
Joining him in the Hall of Fame is Thomas Gerbasi, the late UFC writer and editorial director whose words helped define the sport for a generation of fans. Together, they'll be honored at the 2026 UFC Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on July 9 in Las Vegas.
UFC President and CEO Dana White had high praise for Weidman, calling him "one of the greatest middleweights in UFC history." White added, "Chris consistently competed against the best athletes in the world during his career, and his victories over Anderson Silva changed the landscape of the middleweight division forever. It will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer."
Weidman's legacy is built on one of the most stunning upsets in MMA history. In the summer of 2013, he captured the middleweight title from Anderson Silva, who at the time was widely considered the best fighter on the planet. Weidman didn't just win—he defended the belt three times, starting with a rematch against Silva at UFC 168, followed by wins over Lyoto Machida at UFC 175 and Vitor Belfort at UFC 187.
Those victories cemented his place as a dominant champion, even though the later years of his career proved challenging. After that peak, Weidman went 3-8, with seven of those losses coming by knockout or technical knockout. But for fans who remember the night he dethroned Silva, the Hall of Fame nod feels like a fitting cap to a career that changed the division forever.
For those looking to celebrate Weidman's legacy, there's no better way than gearing up in fight-night style—whether you're hitting the gym or just watching the next big card.