Frankie Edgar, the former UFC lightweight champion, has been announced as the first inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame for the 2024 class. The announcement was made during the UFC 297 broadcast, and Edgar, 42, was present at Scotiabank Arena to witness the honor.

Edgar joins the Modern Wing of the UFC Hall of Fame, which includes iconic fighters like Jose Aldo, B.J. Penn, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Georges St-Pierre, and Ronda Rousey. Throughout his prime, Edgar showcased his skills as a three-division threat. Notably, he claimed the 155-pound title at UFC 112 in April 2010 with a controversial upset victory over B.J. Penn. Edgar successfully defended the lightweight title three times before moving down to the featherweight division, where he had two title challenges.

Edgar’s legacy includes a trilogy of fights with Gray Maynard, with the second bout regarded as one of the greatest fights in MMA history. Known for his exciting style, Edgar accumulated eight Fight of the Night bonuses in his 15-year UFC career, a tally second only to Dustin Poirier and Nate Diaz.

The New Jersey native retired in November 2022 after a knockout loss to Chris Gutierrez, concluding his professional MMA career with a record of 24-11-1. UFC CEO Dana White praised Edgar, stating, “Frankie had an amazing career and consistently fought the best athletes in the world across multiple weight classes for more than 15 years. He is a legend, and it will be an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame.”

The induction ceremony is set to take place during the summer, typically coinciding with International Fight Week. Edgar’s significant contributions to the sport and his remarkable career make him a deserving addition to the UFC Hall of Fame.