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It is a sad day for MMA fans as the UFC announced that Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar passed away on Thursday after presumed heart complications while he was at work. He was 45-years-old.
The UFC announced the passing on their website and social media accounts, which left the MMA community saddened, especially considering that it's the holidays. In an announcement on the promotion's website, UFC President Dana White stated that Bonnar was an integral part of the promotion's success, saying:
"Stephan Bonnar was one of the most important fighters to ever compete in the octagon."
White added that his fight with Forrest Griffin on The Ultimate Fighter season-one finale remains one of the most important fights in UFC history. He mentioned that fans were treated to an unforgettable moment when the two fought for a UFC contract, saying:
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"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."
There was never any doubt that 'The American Psycho' would put on a show for the fans every time he stepped into the octagon. He last fought at Bellator 131 in 2014, where he lost a split-decision to former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz.
We express our condolences to UFC Hall of Famer's friends and family.
Stephan Bonnar was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2013
Despite never winning a UFC championship, Stephan Bonnar still played a significant role in the promotion's success. He competed in the inaugural season of The Ultmate Fighter, which was a huge gamble by the promotion at the time.
'The American Psycho' made it to the finals, where he fought Forrest Griffin in what not only became one of the greatest fights in UFC history, but one of the greatest fights in MMA as a whole. In 2013, both fighters were inducted into the newly introduced Fight Wing category of the UFC Hall of Fame.
Spike TV were so thrilled with the results that they renewed TUF for a second season, which ended up becoming one of the staples of their network.
