UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar Passes Away at 45

Stephan Bonnar, a finalist on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter and UFC Hall of Famer, has passed away at 45.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced his passing on Christmas Eve and cited “presumed heart complications” as the cause of death.

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

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Stephan and Forrest were officially inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 6, 2013. Their fight on The Ultimate Fighter finale is widely regarded as one of the greatest MMA fights of all time and helped propel the sport to a wider audience.

“Everything changed,” Stephan said about the epic three-round war. “I didn’t think I’d have a UFC career. It was just a little hobby I was doing, so it changed everything. Almost overnight, I became like a celebrity. Everywhere I went, someone would recognize me, even in obscure places. I was traveling with TapouT and we were in a small town. I was jogging and someone in a pickup was going ‘Hey Bonnar.’ And everywhere you go, someone knows who you are. It was wild.”

Stephan ended his MMA career with 15 wins and 9 defeats. Some of his most memorable fights were against Mark Coleman, Keith Jardine, Rashad Evans, and Jon Jones.

Former UFC fighter Elias Theodorou passed away at age 34 earlier this year.

We’re sending our thoughts and condolences to Stephan Bonnar‘s loved ones during this difficult time.