UFC president Dana White known as Stephan Bonnar “one of a very powerful fighters to ever compete within the Octagon.”
WASHINGTON — Former fighter Stephan Bonnar, who performed a major function within the UFC’s progress into the dominant promotion in combined martial arts, has died, UFC introduced. He was 45.
Bonnar, who was inducted into the UFC’s Hall of Fame in 2013, died Thursday from “presumed heart complications while at work,” in response to a press release from UFC on Saturday. No additional particulars have been launched.
Bonnar, who initially was from Indiana, hadn’t fought within the UFC since 2014, and he went simply 8-6 throughout seven years with the promotion.
He was a contestant in 2005 on the primary season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” the UFC’s long-running actuality competitors present. He reached the competition’s finale, where he had a spectacular, bloody brawl with Forrest Griffin.
Griffin received the choice, however the viral consideration gained by the extremely entertaining bout is extensively credited with exposing the little-known sport to a bigger worldwide viewers on-line and on Spike TV, which broadcast it.
“Stephan Bonnar was one of the most important fighters to ever compete in the Octagon,” UFC president Dana White mentioned within the assertion. “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.”
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