Chris Weidman, the former UFC middleweight champion, is heading to the UFC Hall of Fame. The promotion made the announcement during the UFC 328 broadcast, confirming Weidman’s induction this summer during International Fight Week in Las Vegas.
Weidman will enter the Modern Wing of the UFC Hall of Fame. Joining him will be the late Thomas Gerbasi, a legendary combat sports writer, who will be inducted posthumously into the Contributor Wing.
Weidman’s Middleweight Title Reign
The history of the UFC middleweight division is intertwined with Chris Weidman’s career. He famously ended Anderson Silva’s historic 16-fight UFC win streak at UFC 162 in July 2013, claiming the middleweight title with a knockout victory. The Long Island native, now 41, went on to defend the title three times.
Weidman secured victories in a rematch against Silva, and against Lyoto Machida and Vitor Belfort. His reign ended with a loss to Luke Rockhold in December 2015.
Across his MMA career, Weidman compiled a 16-8 record, including 12-8 in the UFC. His list of notable wins includes Kelvin Gastelum, Demian Maia, Mark Munoz, and Uriah Hall. Ten of his 16 career victories came by stoppage.
Gerbasi’s Contribution to MMA Journalism
Thomas Gerbasi, considered one of the greatest combat sports writers, will also be inducted. He was the editorial director at UFC.com for over 20 years, writing thousands of articles about MMA. He also penned the “UFC Encyclopedia”.
Gerbasi passed away last September at the age of 57 following a heart attack. He is survived by his wife, Sonia, and their daughter, Jordan. His passing prompted an outpouring of grief from the MMA community.
He is regarded as the gold standard of MMA journalism.
Weidman’s Retirement and Potential Comeback
Weidman retired from the UFC in January 2025 after a knockout loss to Eryk Anders. Since then, there has been talk of a potential MMA comeback in GFL and a professional boxing match against Silva on Netflix.
- Weidman retired from the UFC in January 2025
- He had a 16-8 record in MMA
- He defended the UFC middleweight title three times
However, nothing has materialised. Given Weidman’s age and injury history, his future in combat sports is uncertain. He is currently an analyst for the UFC on Paramount+ broadcasting crew.
Whether he attempts another comeback or remains content with his broadcasting career, his UFC career has earned him a place in the Hall of Fame.