Stephan Bonnar – Syndication Server

Report: UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar died from accidental fentanyl drug overdose

UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar’s death has been officially declared by the Clark County coroner’s office.

UFC Hall of Famer [autotag]Stephan Bonner[/autotag]’s official cause of death is now known.

Bonnar, who was a finalist on the first season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” died on Dec. 22 in Las Vegas at 45. The UFC announced the news two days after, citing heart complications at work. However, the Clark County (Nev.) coroner’s office has ruled Bonnar died due to an accidental drug overdose.

According to a report from MMA Fighting, the coroner’s office officially ruled Bonnar’s death as accidental due to “fentanyl, paraflurofentanyl, and mitragynine intoxication.” No other details were revealed due to medical privacy laws.

UFC president Dana White described Bonnar as “one of the most important fighters to ever compete in the octagon” for his classic UFC Hall of Fame fight against Forrest Griffin in April 2005. The news of Bonnar’s untimely death shook up the MMA community.

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According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid so powerful that it is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is often found in counterfeit pills and mixed with other drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin. Unless tested, it is nearly impossible to detect if street drugs are laced with fentanyl.

In February, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency administrator Anne Milgram described fentanyl as “the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced.”

The UFC hosted a Celebration of Life ceremony for Bonnar in February at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, where a number of speakers paid tribute, including White, his historic rival Griffin, and friends and family.

Forrest Griffin speaks out on Stephan Bonnar’s death: ‘I’ll always miss you, brother’

Forrest Griffin shares a few words on the death of Stephan Bonnar.

Christmas Eve this year came with unfortunate news – the death of MMA legend [autotag]Stephan Bonnar[/autotag].

Over the days, many fans, fighters and people in the MMA community paid their tribute and respects online to the finalist from Season 1 of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series. But one name, and the most linked to Bonnar, kept quiet until now.

Former UFC light heavyweight champion and “TUF 1” winner [autotag]Forrest Griffin[/autotag] posted on Twitter on Wednesday to share some words on the death of his two-time opponent.

“Stephan was a lot of things: He was always the most interesting person in the room, he had the biggest heart and most importantly, he was my friend,
Griffin wrote on Twitter. “I always loved it that people got excited when they found out we were really friends. I’ll always miss you, brother.”

Stephan was a lot of things: He was always the most interesting person in the room, he had the biggest heart and most importantly, he was my friend. I always loved it that people got excited when they found out we were really friends. I’ll always miss you, brother. https://t.co/lXuMgRgaJV

— Forrest Griffin (@ForrestGriffin) December 28, 2022

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Griffin and Bonnar first fought in the “TUF 1 Finale” in April 2005. It was the culmination of the UFC’s attempt at reality television on Spike, now known as Paramount.

The two went toe to toe for 15 minutes and delivered an instant classic that converted a new wave of fans. It was exactly what the UFC needed at the time. The promotion was struggling financially and was hadn’t been able to fully break into the mainstream sports world. Many pundits and experts think Griffin vs. Bonnar was a milestone for the UFC and one of the most important fights in the company’s history.

In the end, Griffin defeated Bonnar by unanimous decision and became the light heavyweight winner of “TUF 1.” The fight was so good that Bonnar, despite coming up short, also received a contract with the UFC and went on to fight under the Las Vegas-based promotion for many years.

The two fought a little more than a year after their first meeting at UFC 62 in August 2006. Griffin won the rematch by unanimous decision.

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UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar dead at 45; MMA community mourns

One half of one of the most legendary fights in UFC history, Stephan Bonnar is dead at 45.

UFC Hall of Famer [autotag]Stephan Bonnar[/autotag], who made history as a finalist on the first season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” has died. He was 45.

The UFC announced the news Saturday, Christmas Eve, and cited heart complications at work as the cause of Bonnar’s death, which occurred Thursday.

A legend in the world of mixed martial arts, “The American Psycho” Bonnar served as one half of the fight many credit with turning around a then-struggling UFC. Although he lost that bout at “The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale” against Forrest Griffin in April 2005, its impact was felt for generations to come. Eventually the bout was inducted into the Fight Wing of The UFC Hall of Fame in 2013.

“Stephan Bonnar was one of the most important fighters to ever compete in the octagon,” UFC President Dana White in a statement. “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.”

Bonnar competed 26 times as a professional, with 15 UFC appearances and one for Bellator. He made his pro debut in 2001, with his UFC debut eight fights later. Bonnar entered the UFC at 7-1, and although he lost the fight to Griffin, he won his next three.

He split his next four at 2-2 with losses to Rashad Evans and Griffin, and subsequent wins over Mark Nickals and Eric Schaefer. Bonnar then entered a three-fight skid with defeats to Jon Jones, Marc Coleman, and Krzysztof Soszynski. He won a rematch against Soszynski before defeating Igor Pokrajac and Kyle Kingsbury.

A loss to Anderson Silva in a makeshift UFC 153 main event was his final bout for the promotion. Bonnar parted ways with the promotion after a failed drug test and claimed retirement. However, he reentered competition to fight Tito Ortiz in Bellator in 2014 and lost by split decision.

Bonnar was in the headlines intermittently following his final MMA bout. In 2019, he competed for Impact Wrestling after a two-year build on the independent pro wrestling circuit. In 2020, Bonnar briefly reentered the MMA circuit as a cornerman for fellow TUF 1 contestant Diego Sanchez. In April 2022, Bonnar had more struggles outside the cage when his house burned down.

Throughout the MMA community, Bonnar was a beloved figure for his toughness and significance to the sport. Many fighters, promoters, fans, and loved ones flocked to social media Saturday to mourn the loss of a UFC pioneer.

Scroll below to see some of those reactions.

UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar says family ‘lost everything’ in house fire

Stephan Bonnar’s home in Henderson, Nev., was reduced to ashes after a fire on Monday.

[autotag]Stephan Bonnar[/autotag]’s home in Henderson, Nev., was destroyed in a fire earlier this week.

On Monday afternoon, a 2-alarm fire blazed the house, leaving the UFC Hall of Famer and his family displaced. MMA Junkie confirmed the news with Bonnar following an initial report from TMZ. Although the house was destroyed in the flames, there were no injuries reported at the time of the incident.

“Lost everything, house is done,” Bonnar told MMA Junkie in a brief statement.

The Henderson Fire Department responded to the call for a residential fire and was able to extinguish the flames with the assistance of the Clark County Fire Department. It took the responders over an hour to extinguish the flames.

“At 2:40 pm today, we responded to a residential fire near Galleria and Cadence Vista Dr. Our crews confirmed smoke and flames were visible on the exterior of the home and established a defensive fire attack,” the Henderson Fire Department shared in a public statement. “Due to the high winds, condition of the fire, and its proximity to neighboring homes, the call was upgraded to a 2-alarm fire.

“With assistance from Clark County Fire Department, we had the fire knocked down at 3:48 p.m. No transports or injuries were reported. Two adults, one child, and four dogs were displaced. Red Cross has made its services available to the residents. At this time, the cause of the fire is under investigation.”

https://www.facebook.com/hendersonfiredepartment/videos/304421255148273/

A GoFundMe has been set up to assist the Bonnar family with expenses following the devastating fire to their home. Fellow UFC legend Don Frye and MMA comedian Adam Hunter are among those who have already donated to the goal of $10,000.

Bonnar was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2013 for his classic battle with Forest Griffin at the inaugural season finale of The Ultimate Fighter.

Update: Friday, Bonnar issued a public statement on the fire and thanked fans for their support. He also mentioned how a handful of members of the original cast of “The Ultimate Fighter” have hit hard times recently, including Chris Leben and Diego Sanchez’s battles with COVID-19 and Mike Swick’s recent cancer diagnosis.

“Appreciate all the prayers, please send some to the rest of #TUF1,” Bonnar wrote on Instagram. “Been a rough year for a lot of us. @mike_swick could use some, same with @chrislebenmma . @diegonightmaresanchezufc looked great last week.. considering his recent hospital stay. #RIP Lodune @sincaidmma . I forgot to mention @schoenaueralex took an AR15 at point blank range, then had a bad dirt bike crash… but he almost dies all the time. This means @forrestgriffin is due for something terrible, so please send some 🙏 his way too. God bless”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cbz2RHMFcTT/?utm_medium=copy_link

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UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar kicked out of gym over mask, mocks ‘sheep’ on way out

Stephan Bonnar didn’t go away quietly after he was asked to leave his local gym because his “mask was dropping.”

UFC Hall of Famer [autotag]Stephan Bonnar[/autotag] left his local gym angry on Easter Sunday – also his birthday – after he was kicked out for not complying with the establishment’s policy on face masks.

Bonnar, who was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2013, recorded a video of himself as he walked out of the gym and posted it on Instagram. He did not go quietly.

In the video, Bonnar holds an inhaler and a basketball as he alternates between talking into the camera and addressing people working out behind him.

“Been coming to this gym 14 years, getting kicked out on my birthday because one of these sheep were complaining that my mask was dropping,” Bonnar says as he strolls away. “Well guess what, sheep? I got a medical exemption. I have asthma. I’m doing you a favor by even playing pretend. Masks don’t do anything. Wake up, you sheep, tattle tales, cowards.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CNQIiKylrfU/?igshid=4vwc1slvzirb

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Wearing a mask is a common requirement at businesses, including gyms, across the U.S. as states have begun to reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Bonnar, who didn’t specify where this incident took place, also posted a caption with his video.

Easter is a good reminder how Christ, despite being a cool dude, was pretty maligned.-
-When I was 10, I was thrown out of the playhouse at Celebration station for my own bday party for being too tall.-
Here I am 34 years later getting thrown out of the gym for exercising my right to breathe clean air.
That’s consistency!
#happyeaster
#marchtothebeatofyourowndrum

Bonnar, 43, last competed in MMA in November 2014, losing a split decision to Tito Ortiz in his lone Bellator appearance at Bellator 131. Bonnar entered the fight wing of the UFC Hall of Famer for his epic The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale clash with Forrest Griffin, which is often credited for “saving the UFC.”

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Now president of North Star Combat, Stephan Bonnar hopes to land UFC Fight Pass streaming deal

Stephan Bonnar wants UFC to add North Star Combat to UFC Fight Pass.

[autotag]Stephan Bonnar[/autotag] might be done fighting in a cage, but he’s still fighting for other things in the MMA world.

The UFC Hall of Famer and runner-up of season one of “The Ultimate Fighter” wants to secure a UFC Fight Pass streaming deal for North Star Combat – a Minnesota-based MMA promotion. Bonnar was appointed president of the promotion earlier this year.

Bonnar hopes the execs at UFC Fight Pass will add North Star Combat to the list of promotions around the globe that use the streaming platform to showcase their live events.

“So far, we got rejected (by the UFC), but they said to just keep working on our product and maybe we’ll reconsider you, and we have we’ve made some improvements, so hopefully they’ll reconsider,” Bonnar told MMA Junkie.

North Star Combat hosts both amateur and professional fights, but Bonnar says the promotion’s goal is to go fully professional in the future.

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Running a regional promotion has its many challenges, but Bonnar says exposure remains at the top of the list – and that’s something Bonnar believes a UFC Fight Pass deal could change.

“Probably the biggest challenge is just getting exposure,” Bonnar said. “So trying to get Forrest (Griffin) to come out and call the fights with me – I had him on The Real MMA show – and he wasn’t going to be able to because he was scheduled to go to China, but plans have changed.

So hopefully we’ll get him on, but we’d like to get on UFC Fight Pass. You think after all the credit of me and his fight, and the impact it had on the company, I think I should be able to get on Fight Pass.

“It’s a good show. We have a great production team, looks top notch, and putting asses in the seats, bottom line. We have merch there, so it’s a good show; I don’t see why not.”

North Star Combat’s next show is currently scheduled for June 27 at the Norther Lights Casino is Walker, Minn. It’s the promotion’s 14th event.

Stephan Bonnar staying busy with multiple business ventures

Stephan Bonnar spoke with the boys at MMA Junkie Radio.

5 of the best ‘Ultimate Fighter’ seasons every fight fan should check out

Looking for something to watch? Here are five of the best “Ultimate Fighter” seasons worth checking out.

Have we seen the last of “The Ultimate Fighter?” That remains to be known, but if you’re looking for something to watch during the coronavirus outbreak, there are a few seasons worth your time.

The show has produced some of the best talent in the UFC, including the likes of Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Michael Bisping, T.J. Dillashaw and Robert Whittaker – all of whom went on to become champions.

There have been 28 regular seasons of the show, not counting international versions. But in terms of talent, caliber of fights, personalities and coach rivalries, there are a few that stand out.

Here are five of the best “Ultimate Fighter” seasons every fight fan should check out.

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TUF 1: Team Liddell vs. Team Couture

It’s hard not to include the first season for many reasons. Although the format was a little odd with some fighters not even getting to compete, we got the perfect mix of unique characters, future champions and a finale to remember.

Season 1 premiered in 2005 and featured middleweights and light heavyweights who were coached by Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture. The cast included the likes of Diego Sanchez, Kenny Florian, Chris Leben, [autotag]Forrest Griffin[/autotag] and [autotag]Stephan Bonnar[/autotag].

It was when the world was introduced to a unique character in Sanchez, who entertained viewers with drunken escapades, yoga in the rain – and who can ever forget when he wrapped himself in cling wrap?

Emotional troublemaker Leben was another interesting character who got into rifts with instigators Josh Koscheck and Bobby Southworth.

But the show was capped off with one of the greatest fights in UFC history: the light heavyweight final between Griffin and Bonnar, a fight that is widely credited for the UFC’s success today.

Griffin beat Bonnar, but both fighters were awarded contracts that night, an unforgettable moment in the company’s history. Griffin also went on to become light heavyweight champion when he beat Quinton Jackson at UFC 86.

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