Former fighter and UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar has died at the age of 45, the organization announced on Saturday.
Bonnar allegedly suffered a heart problem while working out, according to the UFC.
Bonnar is best known for helping popularize the UFC with his classic fight once morest Forrest Griffin in the reality show’s first season finale. The Ultimate Fighter in 2005.
Bonnar and Griffin were inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2013. Their fight, which Griffin won by unanimous decision, is recognized as one of the most significant in the history of the organization. The popularity of the series and the interest generated by the finale – a bloody duel rich in twists and emotions – helped the UFC to stay on cable television and forge its own identity on the fringes of other popular combat sports. like boxing.
Bonnar had 15 fights with the organization from 2005 to 2012. His last fight in the UFC was a loss to Anderson Silva in October 2012.
He then took part in one last pro fight in the Bellator organization losing to Tito Ortiz in November 2014, ending his career with a 15-9 record.
He notably rubbed shoulders with Jon Jones in the latter’s second fight in the UFC in 2009. In addition to Griffin, Silva and Jones, Bonnar has already faced world champions Lyoto Machida, Mark Coleman and Rashad Evans.
