The UFC Hall of Fame enshrined four new members and one unforgettable fight in its Class of 2023 induction ceremony Thursday night in Las Vegas.
Anderson Silva and Jens Pulver were inducted into the pioneer wing, Jose Aldo and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone entered the modern wing and Robbie Lawler’s sequel victory over Rory MacDonald in UFC 189 earned a spot in the fight wing.
Lawler retained his welterweight title in July 2015 by beating MacDonald in the fifth round via TKO. It was a back-and-forth, violent match, now regarded as one of the best in mixed martial arts history.
Lawler, now 41, will make one final appearance Saturday in Las Vegas for a retirement bout during UFC 290. He will face Niko Price.
“I’ve been doing this for a long time. Without the fan support, I wouldn’t be able to make a living doing this,” Lawler said.
Cerrone holds the UFC record for most knockdowns (20) and is tied for second in most wins all-time (23).
“It’s so surreal, man,” Cerrone said of the Hall of Fame honor at the red-carpet event Thursday. “… It kind of concretes the legacy that I tried to do through my career where, when they call, I answer. I show up and I fight, win, lose or draw.”
Silva, who retired from MMA in November 2020, is the most decorated fighter of the class. His UFC records include the longest win streak (16), the longest title reign (2,457 days) and the most successful defenses of a middleweight title (10). “The Spider” went 34-11 in UFC with one no-contest.
–Field Level Media
