3 fights that could be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2017
International Fight Week is less than a month away, beginning July 5, and the UFC has yet to announce what bout (if any) will be included in the promotion's 2017 Hall of Fame class.
The UFC started honoring its greats in 2003, and since then, 17 people (fighters and contributors) and three fights have been inducted. Former heavyweight champion Maurice Smith, Pride FC legend Kazushi Sakuraba, lighter-weight pioneer Urijah Faber, and longtime matchmaker Joe Silva are officially set to get in this year, but what classic clash will join them?
Here are three options the UFC might consider based on their historical relevance, popularity, and entertainment value.
Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 2
Even though none of the matches currently in the Hall of Fame took place before 2005, it's easy to imagine UFC president Dana White deciding to induct a more recent offering that headlined the most successful event in company history.
McGregor was out for revenge after being handed his first defeat in the Octagon by Nate Diaz, and officials were happy to pair the two up again given the blockbuster numbers their first meeting generated. The rematch took place at UFC 202 on Aug. 20, 2016:
It more than lived up to the hype. McGregor was able to land a couple of early knockdowns and showed improved cardio to maintain his offense, while Diaz was in vintage form. Stockton's favorite son (with apologies to brother Nick) took McGregor's best shots and returned fire in a furious third round.
Just when it looked like Nate would outpace McGregor again, "The Notorious" managed to find a second wind and was able to continue going toe-to-toe with his opponent. In the end, the judges rendered a majority decision in McGregor's favor.
The epic feud broke almost every UFC box-office record, so you can bet this one will end up in the Hall of Fame someday. Now is as good a year as any.
Don Frye vs. Yoshihiro Takayama
If officials are going to induct Sakuraba, a legend in Japan who fought at just one UFC event, then it's only logical that they consider other entries from the promotion that made him famous.
Pride was legendary for its wildly entertaining brawls, and none were better than this unforgettable meeting between Frye and Takayama from June 23, 2002:
Put the above clip on loop for six minutes and you'll get an idea of the insane level of brutality these two men reached on that fateful day. All technique and strategy appeared to go out the window as Frye and Takayama made a silent agreement to just clinch up and hit each other as hard as humanly possible, with Frye eventually pulling out a TKO win.
This bout might not be the glossy, glamorous version of the sport that UFC owners WME-IMG want to show to the public, but it deserves to be inducted, warts and all.
Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson
After serving a one-year suspension for a failed drug test, Jones is set to return to competition at UFC 214 when he challenges hated rival Daniel Cormier for the light heavyweight title that he never lost. Adding one of his greatest battles to the Hall of Fame would be an effective way to remind fans that he's coming back.
Jones was in the middle of a dominant romp through the 205-lb division when he was booked to defend the belt against the respected but relatively unknown Gustafsson at UFC 165 on Sept. 21, 2013. The promotion for the fight revolved around Gustafsson possessing the physical frame to match up with the rangy Jones - not exactly top-notch marketing material.
Regardless of the lack of hype, Gustafsson delivered on fight night:
"The Mauler" pushed Jones to the limit for five rounds, badly busting up the champ's face and forcing Jones to throw the playbook out the window and straight scrap. Jones showed a level of toughness he'd never displayed before and earned a close unanimous decision win, though both men were elevated by their performances.
Championship bouts don't get much better than Jones-Gustafsson.