UFC Hall of Fame 2026: Complete list of inductees, ceremony start time, where to watch

The UFC honors six former champions on Thursday. The UFC Hall of Fame ceremony, a staple of International Fight Week, takes place ahead of Conor McGregor’s return at UFC 329. Headlining this year’s class is Demetrious Johnson.

“Mighty Mouse” Johnson has undoubtedly carved himself a Hall of Fame spot. Few fighters deserve it more. Widely considered the best flyweight of all time and a strong contender for the Mount Rushmore of MMA, Johnson has the most consecutive UFC title defenses (11) in history. His dominant run produced several memorable moments.

He famously threw Ray Borg into the air and caught him on the way down with an armbar — one of the most iconic highlights in the sport’s history. Against Horiguchi, Johnson set the record for the latest UFC finish, earning a victory with 1 second remaining in their five-round fight.

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In addition to Johnson, two more champions join the modern wing for their accomplishments on Thursday. Former bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and former middleweight champ Chris Weidman are set for their induction. Cruz is the reason that “Mighty Mouse” was able to exist in his own weight class for so long. Cruz long held the WEC bantamweight title before the brand merged with UFC. He defeated Joseph Benavidez multiple times before outclassing Johnson in 2011. Injuries derailed him getting a chance to be considered an all-time great like Johnson, but a new weight class was formed around Johnson largely because of Cruz’s success.

Weidman, meanwhile, had one of the most iconic wins in UFC history. The American scored a knockout of Anderson Silva to earn the 185-pound title in 2013 amid Silva’s unstoppable run as champion. He followed it up with a win in the rematch after Silva suffered a broken leg throwing a kick. Weidman defended the title twice against Lyoto Machida and Vitor Belfort, establishing himself as one of the best of his era.

“The Notorious” Conor McGregor — career in focus

Former two-division champion Alex Pereira has already achieved Hall of Fame accolades. He’ll certainly enter the modern wing one day. On Thursday, he receives the Forrest Griffin Community Award. Entering the contributor wing is longtime UFC writer and editorial director Thomas Gerbasi, who receives the award posthumously.

Below is how you can watch Thursday’s celebration.

Where to watch the 2026 UFC Hall of Fame

Date: Thursday, July 9
Location: T-Mobile Arena — Las Vegas
Start time: 7 p.m. ET
Watch live: Paramount+ (subscribe now for as low as $8.99 per month), UFC Fight Pass and YouTube