The UFC announced two new entrants into the 2026 UFC Hall of Fame class in former middleweight champion Chris Weidman and former UFC editorial director and combat sports writer Tom Gerbasi who passed away in 2025.
Weidman, a New Jersey native, rose to prominence in July 2013 for his upset win over then-champion Anderson Silva at UFC 162. In their rematch in December 2013, Silva famously snapped his leg on a low kick, giving Weidman another win. He defended the title two more times before losing it to Luke Rockhold at UFC 194 in December 2015.
After a rematch with Rockhold was canceled, Weidman never got a shot at the title again, losing four of his next five with finishes in all of the defeats. After picking up a win in August 2020, he lost three of his last four. In one of those defeats, he notably broke his leg in similar fashion to the Silva fight.
Weidman retired from MMA in January 2025, but will compete against Colby Covington for Real American Freestlyle wrestling later this month. He currently does broadcast work for UFC.
Gerbasi passed away in September 2025 at 56 years old after suffering a massive heart attack. He spent decades writing about boxing, MMA, and even pro wrestling which he did for this website. He contributed to UFC publications, UFC.com, and other areas for the promotion, and was a member of the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame as a writer. He will enter the UFC Hall of Fame as a contributor.
Our Dave Meltzer said about Gerbasi, “Everyone in the MMA world on the inside had nothing but great things to say about him. He was one of the hardest working reporters you would find.”
The ceremony will take place on Thursday, July 9 as part of International Fight Week.
