UFC gentle heavyweight Stephan Bonner, who not solely made him into the Corridor of Fame in his memorable combat with Forrest Griffin, but in addition might have saved the UFC from chapter, died Thursday on the age of 45, the UFC introduced.
Bonner and Griffin engaged in one of many biggest fights within the promotion’s historical past on the Final Fighter Season 1 gentle heavyweight finale on April 9, 2005 on the Cox Pavilion on the UNLV campus in Las Vegas. did. The UFC was tens of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in debt on the time, and then-owner Lorenzo Fertitta directed president Dana White to discover a purchaser.
However after the epic Griffin-Bonnar combat on Spike TV, White, Fertitta and Spike executives signed a brand new TV deal within the area’s parking zone, and the corporate’s trajectory rapidly picked up.
In response to UFC.com, Bonner died on the job from problems believed to be a coronary heart situation. White instructed UFC.com that Bonner is likely one of the most vital fighters in UFC historical past.
Stephan Bonner was probably the most vital fighters to ever combat within the Octagon. Preventing Forrest Griffin modified the game ceaselessly and he won’t ever be forgotten. Followers love him, relate to him, and he all the time gave his greatest. he’ll miss
Bonner was not solely an aggressive striker holding a black belt in jiu-jitsu, but in addition a golden witty speaker with a microphone in his face.
He misplaced a cut up determination to Griffin within the TUF 1 finale, however the UFC additionally gave him a contract. Seven of his eight UFC losses have been to Corridor of Fame fighters like Griffin, Rashad Evans, Jon Jones, or Anderson Silva. His solely UFC loss he wasn’t inducted into was towards Krzysztof his Sosinski. He defeated Sosinski in a rematch.
Bonner misplaced solely as soon as in his pre-UFC period, dropping a bout towards Yoshito Machida in Jungle Struggle 1. Sosinski is the one non-UFC Champion to beat Bonner.
He misplaced to Tito Ortiz in a combat remaining on November 15, 2014 at Bellator 131. He dabbled in skilled wrestling on the finish of his profession and after his retirement.
Nevertheless, he’ll ceaselessly be identified for his combat with Griffin.
Every part has modified. I by no means thought I’d have a profession within the UFC. It was just a bit interest I used to be doing, so every little thing modified. Virtually in a single day, I turned like a celeb. All over the place I went, even in obscure locations, somebody acknowledged me. I used to be touring with TapouT and was in a small city. I used to be jogging and somebody was in a pickup truck yelling, “Hey Bonner.” Wherever you go, somebody is aware of you. It was wild.
Bonner has a spouse, Andrea, and a son, Griffin.
