I disagree that Rich Franklin should make it into the HOF. I don't think the fighters he has beaten in the UFC justify that status. He has been a very, very good fighter and a solid champion, but I don't think he has been a true UFC great like Liddell or Hughes.
Well I think he will get in based alot of his popularity and the fact that his rise occured when the UFC went mainstream. Remember the first main event on Spike TV was Rich TKOing Ken Shamrock in UFC which put Franklin on the map. Rich has a decent resume with Wanderlei, Hamil, Okami, Tanner 2x, Louiseau and a few others but I agree it cant compare to a Hughes or a Liddell in which the resume is so obviously great these guys not being inducted would be a crime. I think Rich will get in but it probably wont be while hes still active like Hughes did recently or soon as he retires like happened with Randy. A few years after his career ends I expect him to be put in.
Pioneers: Frank Shamrock Pat Miletich Don Frye Marco Ruas Shoo-ins: Tito Ortiz BJ Penn George St. Pierre Anderson Silva Noteworthy: David Tank Abbott Evan Tanner Jens Pulver Maurice Smith
They should make it once they retire Bj Penn- GSP-Silva-Chuck Liddell-Tito Ortiz I expect these guys to make it too Rampage-Machida-Shogun-Dan Henderson-Jens Pulver-Arlovski
Current fighters based on pure merit of accomplishments GSP, Anderson Silva, BJ, Chuck Tito, but he is less deserving than the previous list. Those are the dead certs off the top of my head. Mir is possibly a cert just because he did it so far apart, with what should have been a career ending injury; not as certain as the others. Rampage could have made it with regaining the title, he still might. Lesnar is one win away.
Lesnar is one win away from being in the HOF??? Dude shut the hell up atsch So ummmm why not Frankie Edgar then???? He has a better record than Brock
Maybe a bit early, but a really good win puts him in contention for the impact he made. Edgar has more wins, but championship fights are different.
what about guys like wanderlei and cro cop who are MMA legends but did most of their success in japan?