![Stephan Bonnar. [Images courtesy: right image from Getty Images and rest from Twitter @ufc]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2023/01/46b4d-16737480117519-1920.jpg)
![Stephan Bonnar. [Images courtesy: right image from Getty Images and rest from Twitter @ufc]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABjAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwgQAAEEAgEEAwAAAAAAAAAAAAIBAwQFABEiBxIUISMkQQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwYRAAICAwEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIDAQQAESExQf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8AhQ9LK+Haz6mU8E8I8I0OMbSMsEWo3cnDkoEj2lHNCUwMVNPXwPPtPqRGWOLyqnxAg+trv8xjBsEQWdwU9WO+7yhp1kOQwTXEwLefPYz/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
UFC's iconic light heavyweight, Stephan Bonnar, passed away on 22 December, 2022, at the age of 45. His death was reportedly caused by heart complications.
The UFC kicked off its year with UFC Vegas 67 and fittingly paid tribute to the legendary fighter on the broadcast with a touching video.
The video aptly starts with Bruce Buffer's iconic pre-fight introduction call before diving deep into the fight that made Bonnar's career and perhaps saved the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Bonnar and Forrest Griffin faced off in the finals of The Ultimate Fighter season 1 in a light heavyweight bout after both fighters had progressed through the competition. They put on an incredible show inside the octagon and enthralled fans with constant action in the three-round fight.
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'The American Psycho' ultimately lost out via decision, but his performance warranted more. He was fittingly compensated with a six-figure UFC contract by Dana White.
In the video, Griffin recounted the status of his greatest opponent and the relationship the two shared:
"Stephan Bonnar was one of the most important figures ever to fight in the UFC. He was a legend of the sport and I have the honor of calling him my friend."
Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar was inducted into the UFC's Hall of Fame Fight Wing, as were the two fighters in 2013.
Check out the UFC's tribute to the legend:
Fans react to UFC's video tribute to Stephan Bonnar
The video shown on the broadcast of UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Imavov drew an emotional response from fans.
Fans replied to the Twitter post with their own tribute, mentioning the historic fight against Forrest Griffin in particular.
"Absolute icon of the sport, without that fight with Griffin who knows where the UFC would be today. They certainly put it on the map. Thanks for the memories and my condolences to the friends and family. What a tragedy. RIP Stephan Bonnar."
"The UFC have him and Griffin a lot to thank for. Wouldn’t be where they are today without that absolute war!"
"The fight with Forrest Griffin will forever live on, RIP champ."
One fan also recounted Bonnar's kindness to them as he frequented a dispensary the fan worked at:
"I worked at a dispensary in Vegas and Stephan used to come in all the time for CBD. He was such a nice and friendly guy and would always stop to talk to us in security. RIP Stephan, you were a good dude."
