UFC Hall of Fame to Induct Two New Members in July
(Hint: It's these guys.)
MMA Fanhouse tips us that two new names will be added to the UFC Hall of Fame during the UFC Fan Expo on July 10th, the day before UFC 100 — meaning there's only two months left before our t-shirt becomes outdated (at which point we'll jack up the price and call it a "collector's item," obviously). As the official announcement goes:
Allow us to speculate wildly...
— Notice it says "worthy members of the UFC world," and not "fighters"? That seems like a pretty clear sign that a peripheral figure may be inducted, namely Charles "Mask" Lewis, the TapouT co-founder who gained patron saint status when he died in a car wreck in March. Considering all he did to support young fighters and help develop the sport during his lifetime, Lewis seems like a shoe-in.
— Chuck Liddell, the UFC's longtime franchise player, is probably a lock for the next fighter spot, unless Dana White is so pissed at his refusal to retire that he decides to give the honor to somebody else. Which would make sense, after all: If the Hall of Fame is for retired fighters, you don't get to enter until you've called it quits.
— Dark horse: If Matt Hughes loses to Matt Serra at UFC 98, it'll signal the end of his career as much as Chuck's loss to Shogun signaled the end of the Iceman's. (Meaning, it'll be over even if he thinks it isn't.) With a 9-2 record in welterweight title fights, Hughes is one of the most dominant fighters in UFC history, and he'll definitely get the honor as soon as he retires. If he does that before July, he might sneak in before Liddell.
— Very dark horse: Tank Abbott. The original Huntington Beach Bad Boy owns the most losses in UFC history (10), and was fighting when the prize was going to jail. That's gotta count for something, right?
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TUF Guy Says:
Dying in a car wreck is the best thing that happened to that Drag Queen, Mask. It made him more popular than when he was alive. Kinda like Aaliyah.
Fuckyerfrat Says:
if they put in mask, they have to put in helio gracie too. otherwise this is all a fucking sham.
Tom Says:
first
Chiggs Says:
Fucking right on about Mask, thats bullshit, dont care if he let Chucky sleep on his couch or not. When guys like Helio and/or Don Frye are passed over, its kinda an insult to the true pioneers and Hall of Famers imo. Dana is Dana thou unfort.
Perennial Says:
I think you're spot on on them points.
Kadumel Says:
Ben you're so clever! It's truly, honestly, serriously, for-real for-real no play play, is beyond specteculary amazing.
Perennial Says:
Then again, I would fucking laugh and cry if that Mask-man would be in the hall of fame.
"I SOLD CLOTH BEFORE IN THE BACK OF A VAN!".
Cry me a river, build a bridge and get over it.
Kadumel Says:
"insert funny quote here" HAHAHAHAHAHAH just kidding.
Wyatt Says:
So Randy gets put in, and then has a long drawn out legal battle...Chuck could do the same!
I think putting Mask in should've been done when he was still around though.
Mdollas Says:
I agree...if they are going to put these two in the hall of fame, dont you think they should take a look at all the people they have over looked? Perhaps its time they added more then just TWO names to the hall of fame and do things right.
PHELPS Says:
Why the hell would Helio get inducted? Maybe Royrion or however you spell that. An argument for Tito should defniitely be made. But that would probably happen over Dana's dead body. Others to consider... Bas, Militech (I'm only considering retirees)
manutdfan Says:
My vote is Helio Gracie, and Evan Tanner. Remember them, Dana?
polish Says:
You all are idiots, it's obviously going to be Tito and Babalu...
Shatski Says:
Think they just wanted to wait until now to induct Evan Tanner if they have the intent to even do that? Could be Chuck but that's iffy if he doesn't actually announce a retirement.
Mdollas Says:
Why would Helio Gracie get inducted??? The only reason i could think NOT to let Helio in, is because he was never directly related to the UFC. Why would you not put the founder of BJJ in?
El Famous Burrito Says:
Evan Tanner is my guess.
rokabee Says:
Can i just have a shirt? fuck man.
Mask deserves it, so does Helio, and Tanner.
Im not sure if Chuck wants that right now, I'm pretty sure he still wants to fight, I mean, hey, Michael Jordan came back out of retirement right?
PHELPS Says:
Exactly, isn't it the UFC Hall of Fame. I'm not saying he's not deserving of honors, but not UFC.
Mdollas Says:
Even so, for the sport of MMA, dont you think in all reality Helio did more for it, then Charles Lewis?? If you think about it Helio did more for the UFC without ever having to have been affiliated......Unless you look at it as...his sons came to America and co-founded the UFC with Royce Gracie as the small man in the ring who can beat everyone....but i mean, depends how ya look at it....
Danal White Says:
Who gives a big fucking crap?
And thank god Boy George didnt die when he was young, wed have eulogized another cross-dresser.
Apart for the nuthuggers, how is Affliction any different from the ugly shit Tapout sells?
Both rely on retards with more money than taste who believe they live a 'lifestyle', both companies treated their fighters well (Affliction will ruin themselves because they payed the fighters too well).
Had Attencio stayed in 'the family' and kept peddling shirts and died we would have had this same conversation.
Hall of fame for selling shirts?
Im sure the producer of TUF has to be next then.
VegasBJJ Says:
Definitely Evan Tanner. Maybe Marco Ruas as well....
PHELPS Says:
I disagree if that were the case he should have been the first person inducted. Why don't we induct Bruce Lee then?
VegasBJJ Says:
shocked to see that Frye wasn't in there too.
Mdollas Says:
Bruce Lee is so far out of this discussion it makes no sense?
Fuckyerfrat Says:
put helio in on the merit that he created the fighting system that made the ufc and mma what it is today. without helio's contributions to the world of martial arts, these would all be really sloppy kickboxing and lay-n-pray shit fests. i understand the argument about never fighting, but i think it would be a nice honor for the man and family, and a good way to show these noobs that jiu jitsu didn't start 16 years ago. and, forgive me for leaving out tanner. he should definitely go this time.
nEw JeRsEy - NeW jErSeY Says:
wow...just amazed at all this dicks typing nastiness on the computer from their desk-jobs or dorm rooms, or parent's basements about guys who DID SOMETHING with their lives and will be remembered for their accomplishments, no matter how trivial they are to you.
yeah, Mask "sold cloth out of his trunk", but the guy made milions and helped a lot of up and coming fighters become well-paid pro fighters. what have YOU done to make your mark in the world?
Helio and Chuck probably got more done of consquence and substance last weekend than you did last year...and one of them is dead!
a lot of sad angry pricks on here, for sure.
PHELPS Says:
Bruce Lee invented Win Chun which is practiced by Anderson Silva its just a ridiculous argument for the inventor of a fight style that had nothing to do with the sport other than being the father of some of the creators. Yeah Helio is awesome he should be in a bjj HOF or mma HOF but not UFC in my opinion. And probably not mask either. Its too soon in the history of the game to not be putting fighters in. I'm sure at some point in the future, trainers will get in there and some other people like announcers. I bet Rogan will get inducted, but not yet.
bpd Says:
Phil Baroni is waiting by the phone.
Mdollas Says:
No Comment on that Win Chun.
mayhem420 Says:
Don Frye
Evan Tanner
Chuck
Mask
Anyone of those 4 guys is fine with me. I cant see Helio since he never had anything to do with the UFC... yea he was the founder of BJJ but never part of the UFC. All of those other guys above were all part of the UFC and were great fighters. Mask was a longtime sponser for the UFC and its fighters so I am ok with him as a choice. Keep in mind this is the UFC HAll of Fame and not the MMA HAll of Fame.
Not a TUF Guy Says:
It's gotta be WarMachine or Junie Browning. Both are legends.
josh rosenthal Says:
evan tanner anyone
PHELPS Says:
Big John
Anonymous Says:
Say what you want about Mask but you ask any fighter and they will tell you that he's deserved. Hes done more for the sport in terms of supporting fighters who otherwise would never have been able to pursue their passion and dream. If funny because I know without a doubt in my mind that most of you didn't even watch the sport until SPIKE TV made it popular and cool. That just makes you a bunch of bandwagoner's. This guys was supporting the sport when people considedered it a joke. So crack on him all you want but the fact of the matter is that the guy was real and you faggots are nothing more than puck bitches reaching for a nipple. R.I.P. Mask!!! the rest of you can suck a dick.
Anonymous Says:
Franklin McNeil's "sources" just told me that the new inductees are "none other than Tito Ortiz and Frank Shamrock."
CrownedTerror Says:
Kimbo and Tim Sylvia. It has to be them right?
Just dicking around fuck that big nostriled nigga.
"Cloth in the back of van" was fucking awesome.
Terrakilla Says:
They could make it like the Rock & Roll hall of fame and put everyone in it. I do think Mask and Chuck should be in it though.
PoleVault1543 Says:
Nick Diaz, homie
Old, Bald and Irish Says:
To say that Helio had nothing to do with the UFC just isn't true. helio and Rorion gracie materminded the whole concept of the UFC.
Also, Helio coached Royce outside the ring at UFC 1 and 2
...SO THERE!
I'd be cool with:
Tanner: Cool dude and a great fighter.
Helio: The argument could be made that he's the father of MMA.
Mask: While I never cared for the TapouT guys antics, they did support the sport and the folks they supported appreciated them and loved 'em back. I'm cool with it. He touched a lot of guys *pause* lives.
Chuck: If, and only if, he is definitly retiring. Don't jerk us around!
Hughes: ...same as Chuck. As much as I don't care for Hughes, there is no denying his contribution and record in the cage.
Phil Baroni: I mean, come on. He's the best EVAH!
...everybody knows that!
Floridiot Says:
suck. me. dry.
Rault Says:
To put in "Mask", who dies and almost kills an innocent woman in a street racing accident over a guy who actually fucking fought and was a champion in the UFC would be a disgusting joke.
Rault Says:
That guy being Evan Tanner*
Denny Kappes Says:
It should be Mask and Big John McCarthy in a combination Hall of Fame induction/farewell/welcome back ceremony.
WORRIED Says:
where is CAPS LOCK HAL?????
Justin Says:
I'M NOT GOING TO PUT DOWN ON MASK, BUT HE DOESN'T DESERVE TO BE IN THE UFC HALL OF FAME. THAT'S LIKE PUTTING A FAN IN THE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME. THE DUDE WAS DOING WHAT HE HAD TO DO TO MAKE A LIVING. THE HALL OF FAME SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR FIGHTERS.
walrus Says:
Dana White's gonna add himself.
Observer Says:
If they put in that clown (I'm not trying to be a dick but that's just the way he dresses), and don't put in Helio (BJJ founder), Rickson (no UFC without him), Dana (no mainstream UFC without him), Don Frye (for the popularity and the US flag shorts) and douchebags like Lesnar (who will prove to have been the cash cows Dana knew they would be.
And the fans (yes, we all deserve a spot, as there's no anything without us, and our PPV dollars have helped a shitload more fighters than the clown above).
Adebisi Says:
"MASK"
Are you FUCKING Kidding me?
Adam Says:
If Mask gets in and Evan Tanner doesn't I will officially make it my life's work to destroy the UFC
Anonymous Says:
@ Jersey
"guys who DID SOMETHING with their lives and will be remembered for their accomplishments"
You're a retard. Who the fuctk will remember this guy. And how little have you done that someone doing their job or running a business should be put on a pedestal and "remembered". I got the people in my province $34.4M in federal dollars today. Everyone remember me!!!!!
Douchebag
Some people here have done so little that they feel that businessmen are gods. You don't have to be a dick to question why this guy would be in the UFC Hall of Fame. But it's clear that you haven't done much