Former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer as part of the 2025 class, the promotion announced Saturday night.

Belfort was in attendance at UFC 315 in Montreal when play-by-play commentator Jon Anik revealed the news.

Nicknamed "The Phenom," Belfort was one of the scariest knockout artists at his peak. He debuted in the Octagon at UFC 12 in 1997 at the age of 19 and went on to enjoy lengthy tenures in the UFC, PRIDE FC, Strikeforce, and other organizations. He captured the UFC light heavyweight title with a stoppage win over Randy Couture at UFC 49 in 2004, but he lost the belt to Couture in his first defense.

Belfort unsuccessfully challenged for gold three times after that: at middleweight against Anderson Silva in 2011 and Chris Weidman in 2015, and at light heavyweight against Jon Jones in 2012.

The 48-year-old Brazilian retired from mixed martial arts following a knockout loss to Lyoto Machida at UFC 224 in 2018. Belfort has competed in two boxing matches since then: He knocked out former world heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield in an exhibition bout in 2021 and defeated former UFC fighter Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza in a pro fight in 2023.