Former fighter Stephan Bonnar, who is credited with helping to bring MMA into the public eye, has passed away, according to the UFC. The UFC revealed in a statement on Saturday that Bonnar passed away on Thursday at the age of 45 as a consequence of “presumed heart issues.”
“Stephan Bonnar was one of the most important fighters to ever compete in the Octagon,” said UFC president Dana White.
“His fight with Forrest Griffin changed the sport forever, and he will never be forgotten. The fans loved him, related to him and he always gave them his best. He will be missed.”
In 2005, Bonnar participated in the inaugural season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” a reality television programme where combatants train and reside in opposing camps before going head-to-head.
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Forrest Griffin defeated Bonnar in the light-heavyweight championship fight by decision, but the two put up one of the best cage fights ever.
It has been said that the fight, which was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s Fight Wing in 2013, “saved” the UFC by guaranteeing another season of The Ultimate Fighter and bringing the competition to a new audience.
Known as “The American Psycho,” Bonnar competed 15 times for the UFC, recording eight victories and seven defeats. He competed against legendary fighters like Rashad Evans, Mark Coleman, Jon Jones, and Anderson Silva.
After losing to Brazilian superstar Silva in his final UFC match in October 2012, Bonnar returned to the ring in 2014 under the Bellator MMA brand and lost against Tito Ortiz by split decision.
In 24 cage appearances, his professional MMA record was 15 wins and 9 defeats. Longtime UFC commentator Joe Rogan, who called the Indiana-born Bonnar “a real icon,” was one of several MMA figures to pay tribute to him.
“RIP to one of the most important figures in the explosion of MMA,” wrote Rogan in a message shared on Instagram. “You will not be forgotten.”
Following his retirement from MMA, Bonnar briefly entered the world of professional wrestling. In 2020, he served as Diego Sanchez’s cornerman.
His Las Vegas house was destroyed in a fire in April, just one of his recent personal misfortunes. He also made news during the Covid-19 outbreak for his social media rants about having to wear a mask and his stance on a purported crackdown on free speech.
Griffin Brandon, Bonnar’s son, and his wife Andrea are still alive.
