UFC-veteranen Stephan Bonnar dog den 22 december vid 45 års ålder och sörjs av MMA-världen.
”The American Psycho” Bonnar dog enligt UFC av hjärtproblem och hyllas bland annat av kommentatorn Joe Rogan. Bonnar var finalist i den första säsongen av realityserien The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) som sändes i januari 2005.
Bonnar mötte Forrest Griffin i finalmatchen och bjöd fansen på en av de mest minnesvärda matcherna i MMA-historien. Trots att Griffin vann matchen via enhälligt domslut så kom båda fighters att få ett UFC-kontrakt. Griffin vs Bonnar har kallats en av MMA-historiens viktigaste matcher då den tog vid under en tid då UFC hade stora svårigheter och stod på ruinens brant.
Tack vare TUF och finalmatchen kom UFC att få sitt stora genombrott och resten är historia. När nyheten om Bonnars bortgång kablades ut så kom han att hyllas av många, däribland UFC-chefen Dana White som kallade honom för ”en av de viktigaste fighters som någonsin tävlat i oktagonen”.
Även Rogan tog till sociala medier för att hylla Bonnar och lyfta fram hur den amerikanska MMA-legendaren spelade en viktig roll i hur sporten kom att finna enorm framgång efter finalmatchen i TUF.
– Vi förlorade en äkta legend, skrev Joe Rogan på Instagram. RIP till en av de viktigaste personerna när MMA exploderade. Stephan Bonnar och Forrest Griffin var delaktiga i en match på Spike TV 2005 som var så vild och så underhållande att den förändrade kursen för UFC och MMA för alltid. Du kommer aldrig att glömmas.
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Heard about this early this morning. Truly a heartbreaking loss. So very sad. Thoughts are with his family. https://t.co/jXZLNKQBbf
— michael (@bisping) December 24, 2022
Horrible news. Not hyperbole to state that without Stephan Bonnar’s contributions on TUF 1 (and the finale) the sport isn’t what it is today. He will forever be an extremely important part of MMA history.
May he rest in peace. https://t.co/32e0wIr3fj
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 24, 2022
My condolences go out to Stephan Bonnar’s family. His fight with Forrest Griffin changed the landscape of the sport of MMA and pushed it to the next level. He’s a big part of the reason we are here today. https://t.co/NtGaVAN96M
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) December 24, 2022
Rip legend Stephan Bonnar…. Sad year for the MMA community… #ufc #mma
— Renato Moicano UFC (@moicanoufc) December 24, 2022
RIP Stephan Bonnar – UFC Hall of Famer and one half of one of the most iconic fights in UFC history https://t.co/qS5QZev9uX
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) December 24, 2022
Stephan Bonnar vs Forrest Griffin was the first mma fight I ever watched, and it completely changed my life.
It is so incredibly heartbreaking to hear the news of Stephan's passing. Another one gone too soon. My thoughts are with his family during this time 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/1wa2oz1s6H
— Megan Anderson (@MeganAnderson) December 24, 2022
Very sad to hear about the passing of @StephanBonnar His fight with @ForrestGriffin helped jumpstart the @ufc into the mega promotion you see today. RIP Stephan. Your time here was way too short
— Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) December 24, 2022
As all MMA fans know, Stephan was a pioneer in the sport. But he was also SO kind and fun to work with. Whenever we would see him, even after his fight career, he still lit up the room. Prayers for him & his loved ones at this difficult time. https://t.co/dMSUuBczdt
— Megan Olivi (@MeganOlivi) December 24, 2022
RIP💔
Legends never die https://t.co/yxjgLor0zr— Joanna Jedrzejczyk (@joannamma) December 25, 2022
😔 RIP legend pic.twitter.com/fIXZtesyAP
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) December 24, 2022
Unreal That I’ve lost another friend this year
You will be missed brother #rip pic.twitter.com/SohdDTINts
— Jake Shields (@jakeshieldsajj) December 25, 2022
Crushed. 💔 https://t.co/XtN1ynoqHp
— Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) December 25, 2022
Rest in peace to a pioneer of the sport🙏🏼❤️ https://t.co/Q6LSU12ddw
— Calvin Kattar (@CalvinKattar) December 25, 2022
RIP Stephan Bonner one of the most influential fighters in ufc history, his fight with Forrest and TUF season 1 was a big reason i got into mma #legend https://t.co/dHNTTARfaj
— Billy Quarantillo (@BillyQMMA) December 25, 2022
Some hyperbole and myths persist about Bonnar-Griffin. What's undeniable is the pivotal role it played helping to usher in the 'UFC on Spike' era, which in turn altered the sport forever. This is really sad to hear. RIP to the American Psycho https://t.co/ziw48kezd9
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) December 25, 2022
😔 all these legends passing away.. rip 🙏🏽 https://t.co/2Bg1GVXZIa
— Adrian Yañez (@yanezmma) December 25, 2022
RIP brotha. 🙏🏼 https://t.co/oTW7Lep4rH
— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) December 25, 2022
Stephan Bonnar, you were one of the toughest & funniest guys I’ve ever met. You passed way too soon but accomplished so much in a short amount of time. You helped change this sport forever, inspired a whole generation of fighters & your impact will always be remembered. 💔 pic.twitter.com/LyYA5FzRmG
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) December 25, 2022
Rest In Peace to the man who helped keep the sport alive! Prayers up for your friends, and family! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/07XsCvUIn5
— Cody Durden (@Cody_Durden) December 24, 2022
RIP to the American Pyscho, Stephan Bonnar. I remember watching him and Anderson Silva.
From what I’ve read, without him and Forrest Griffin, UFC may have not made it.
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) December 24, 2022
RIP to a great friend and Fighter. Stephan Bonnar—You had the heart of a thousand men. Really gonna miss you. pic.twitter.com/embkLIrOsG
— MMA Roasted (@MMARoasted) December 24, 2022
The first time I ever heard of mixed martial arts was when I was 14 and saw the first ultimate fighter. That started the dream that led me to where I am today. The finale between Stephan and Forrest saved the UFC from going under. R.I.P pic.twitter.com/vtR9wkmxCF
— Kyle The Monster Nelson (@THE__MONSTER) December 24, 2022
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 https://t.co/wjyMf4z4T9
— Lando Vannata (@GroovyLando) December 24, 2022
Rest in peace, Stephan Bonnar. Your impact on MMA will be felt forever. pic.twitter.com/cwm6WdQ7hm
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) December 24, 2022
Tragic news on Christmas Eve. Stephan Bonnar was a critical player in helping elevate the UFC into the the global powerhouse it is today. Let's never short change him of that contribution. R.I.P. ❤️ https://t.co/WZc26SdtI1
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) December 24, 2022
Rest in piece legend https://t.co/MJqMpYfAZM
— Nikolas Motta (@nikolasmotta) December 24, 2022