The MMA community mourns the death of UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar.
If you don’t know Stephan Bonnar, you don’t know MMA.
He’s one half of the epic fight which many think put MMA and the UFC on the map.
And, according to the UFC, Bonnar has died at the age of 45.
“The UFC family is saddened by the passing of UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar. We send our sincerest condolences to his family and friends,” the promotion tweeted on Christmas Eve. The promotion also wrote a short piece on the legendary athlete citing “presumed heart complications while at work” as his cause of death.
Bonner competed in the first ever The Ultimate Fighter finale, competing in a Hall of Fame fight with Forrest Griffin. Bonner is in the Hall of Fame both as a modern era fighter and for the epic fight.
“Stephan Bonnar was one of the most important fighters to ever compete in the Octagon,” said UFC president Dana White said in the article on UFC.com. “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.”
See how the MMA world reacted to the death of Stephan Bonnar
https://twitter.com/JohnMorgan_MMA/status/16067990102282
https://twitter.com/mma_kings/status/160679504712237875336290
Bonnar had a difficult life following his departure from the sport. He was often in trouble with the law, including a terrifying DUI arrest where Bonnar was stopped on the Las Vegas freeway by concerned citizens.
In 2021 he was caught on camera arguing with police and hospital staff over pain medication that he claims they refused to give him.