Stephan Bonnar UFC Hall of Famer died at 45

• Stephan Bonnar was inducted into UFC Hall of Fame in 2013.
• Ultimate Fighter has established itself as a pillar of  UFC’s commercial strategy.
• American Psycho ended his career in MMA competition in 2014 with a 15-9 record.

History was made in the Ultimate Fighter season one finale when Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar squared off. After being acquired by Las Vegas casino moguls Lorenzo & Frank Fertitta, the UFC had been in dire financial straits for years. An attempt to break into the increasingly expanding reality TV business was somewhat of a desperation move. a desire to advertise MMA to individuals who are not already fans of combat sports.

More than the UFC could have ever hoped for was a spectacular brawl between two charismatic sluggers eager to disregard all safety precautions. With 30 seasons currently under its belt, The Ultimate Fighter has established itself as a pillar of the UFC’s commercial strategy thanks to its devoted fan base and high ratings.

When Griffin and Bonnar were inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame jointly in 2013, UFC president Dana White remarked, “There has never been a more important fight in the history of the UFC.” Never in the history of mixed martial arts has a battle been more significant.

Griffin eventually won the UFC championship. Over the course of his seven-year UFC career, Bonnar frequently traded victories and losses, but despite this, he remained a fan favourite because of his willingness to compete with what seemed like reckless abandon for his own safety. The “American Psycho” ended his career in MMA competition in 2014 with a 15-9 record after one match in Bellator.

Bonnar participated in indie wrestling after leaving the realm of mixed martial arts, making a cameo in Impact Wrestling in 2019. In the fall of 2021, Bonnar reportedly fractured his back at a wrestling event, which significantly limited his professional wrestling career.

When Bonnar and his wife lost their Las Vegas house due to fire in 2022, problems surfaced once more. Through a campaign, which included a $4,000 gift from former UFC champion Tyron Woodley, the pair was able to raise over $10,000.

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