Chris Weidman Earns UFC Hall of Fame Honor After Defining Middleweight Era.

Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman will officially join the UFC Hall of Fame later this year, recognizing a career highlighted by one of the biggest upsets in mixed martial arts history and a championship run that helped shape the division in the 2010s.

The UFC announced Saturday that Weidman, 41, has been selected for induction following a career that included a stunning victory over longtime middleweight king Anderson Silva in 2013. Entering UFC 162 as a heavy underdog and just 10 fights into his professional career, Weidman shocked the MMA world when he knocked Silva out in the second round to capture the 185-pound title in Las Vegas. At the time, Silva’s dominance appeared untouchable. The Brazilian star entered the bout riding a 16-fight UFC winning streak and held the middleweight championship for a UFC-record 2,457 days before Weidman ended the reign with a perfectly timed left hook. The rivalry continued later that year at UFC 168, where Weidman defeated Silva again in a rematch that ended dramatically after Silva suffered a severe leg injury in the second round. A former NCAA Division I wrestler at Hofstra University, Weidman successfully defended the middleweight title three times during his championship run. His victories over Brazilian contenders Lyoto Machida and Vitor Belfort further cemented his place among the top fighters of his era. Weidman’s career later took a difficult turn when he suffered a devastating leg injury during a 17-second loss to Uriah Hall in 2021. After a lengthy recovery, he returned to competition two years later before announcing his retirement from MMA in 2024. The Hall of Fame induction adds another milestone to a career remembered for resilience, championship success and one unforgettable night that changed UFC history.