Predicting the 2025 UFC Hall of Fame class after Craig Piligian induction

The UFC Hall of Fame 2025 class gained its first member with a respectful package at UFC 311. Television producer Craig Piligian, who played a significant role in creating "The Ultimate Fighter," will be inducted into the contributor wing in July.

Six months remain until the official ceremony during International Fight Week, leaving a lot of time for the rest of the class to fill out. The UFC's annual Hall of Fame inductions are not restricted, but fans can expect four to five more announcements until then.

Here are our predictions for the rest of the 2025 UFC Hall of Fame induction class.

Chris Weidman — Modern wing

Chris Weidman is the most recent former champion to retire, making him the top candidate for the next induction. The UFC has not waited long to honor former champions in recent years, suggesting that Weidman's recognition will likely come sooner rather than later.

Not only does Weidman have the third-most title defenses in UFC middleweight history, but he has one of the best stories of any champion. His knockout of Anderson Silva is still widely recognized as one of the biggest knockouts in MMA history and arguably the most iconic moment in the division's history.

If nothing else, Silva's inspiring journey back to the cage after brutally breaking his leg at UFC 261 is worthy of recognition by itself. Few have ever suffered an injury of that magnitude, much less fight their way back to the cage after doing so. Weidman was able to pick up a win in front of his home crowd three years after it looked like his career ended in the Octagon.

Not all former champions get into the Hall of Fame, but Weidman's working relationship with the UFC could not be better. The 40-year-old is a staple of the promotional weigh-in show, increasing his presence in the sport as an analyst.

Matt Brown — Modern wing

If Donald Cerrone has a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame, Matt Brown deserves his day as well. Brown may not have ever fought for a title, but it is hard to see a fighter ever matching his career arc.

Before Derrick Lewis separated himself by knocking out Rodrigo Nascimento at UFC St. Louis, he and Brown went back and forth with the record for most knockouts in UFC history. The biggest difference between the two is that Lewis is a heavyweight, where knockouts are a common occurrence. Brown competed at a weight class nearly 100 pounds lighter but still finished opponents with the same velocity.

In many ways, Cerrone and Brown's careers mirrored one another. Neither of them cared who or when they fought. Fighting was a lifestyle for both of them, making them the perfect ideation of what the general public assumes a professional fighter would be.

Conor McGregor vs. Nate Diaz 2 — Fight wing

This one may be a long shot, but there are many reasons why it could happen. This fight will get into the Hall of Fame one day and 2025 would be as good of a year as any.

Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz are both favorites among the UFC executives. Diaz certainly lost some brownie points when he forced his way out of the promotion, but there is no doubt that Dana White would sign him back in a heartbeat if he could.

There is a world where neither McGregor or Diaz ever fight for the UFC again, but if they do, introducing them as Hall of Famers would only sweeten the moment. If they ever agree to a trilogy fight under the UFC banner, that would only make the moment even better.

Amid drama in the careers of both men, a Hall of Fame induction would light a small flame in what has otherwise been a dark period for both fighters. Maybe receiving the honor under the bright lights helps White coax one — or both — back into the Octagon.

Jiri Prochazka — Forrest Griffin Community Award

The competition for the annual Forrest Griffin Community Award is always different, but nobody would shake their head at Jiri Prochazka receiving the honor in 2025. The year has only just begun, and there has not been a lot to go off of yet, but Prochazka might already have the fan moment of the year for what he did at UFC 311.

Before he earned another performance bonus with a third-round knockout of Jamahal Hill, Prochazka somehow made himself even more likable by the fanbase. In addition to shaving his head to honor a fan of his suffering from cancer, Prochazka announced that he would donate $50K to charity at the UFC 311 press conference. His declaration convinced White to match his contribution, raising the total donation to $100K.

Given the impact of the California wildfires, it is possible that another fighter will surpass Prochazka by contributing to the efforts of the overworked Los Angeles Fire Department. Fans would just love to see nothing more than the Czech Samurai honorably inducted into the Hall of Fame.