“Ladies and Gentleman in attendance tonight and the millions of UFC fans watching around the world have just witnessed three rounds of the greatest action ever seen inside the Octagon in the history of the UFC. Let’s give a hand for these UFC light heavyweight warriors.”
Ring announcer Michael Buffer right after the conclusion of the April 9, 2005, Ultimate Fighter season one finale fight between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar.
Stephan Bonnar, who lost a close decision to Forrest Griffin in what could be argued was the most important MMA fight ever held in the U.S., passed away on 12/22 from what was believed to have been a heart attack while at work. According to the Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office, the cause of death and circumstances are still pending.
Bonnar was 45.
Bonnar’s legacy, his 15 minutes in the cage that night and a few minutes after, will always be tied to the first time UFC was ever live on television. Spike TV made at the time a controversial call to put a UFC show on television, something no other channel would dare try at the time. While largely forgotten, Griffin vs. Bonnar was not the main event on the show (for trivia it was a fight where Rich Franklin beat Ken Shamrock) nor were they really the stars of the first season of the show, who were Chris Leben, Josh Koscheck, and Diego Sanchez.
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including the death of Stephan Bonnar and the role he played in the explosion of UFC, Robviper’s tweets looking at the issues AEW is facing with talent, Smackdown, Rampage, John Cena’s drawing power, and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Stephan Bonnar, a finalist in the first season of UFC’s The Ultimate Fighter, has passed away.
UFC confirmed the news on social media Saturday afternoon, writing on their website that Bonnar had died from “presumed heart complications” while at work. MMA Fighting reported that a law enforcement source with knowledge of the situation confirmed he had died on December 22.
“The UFC family is saddened by the passing of UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar,” UFC wrote on social media. “We send our sincerest condolences to his family and friends.”
Bonnar was a finalist in the first season of The Ultimate Fighter back in 2005, losing to Forrest Griffin via unanimous decision. The fight was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2013. He continued to compete in the UFC through 2012, when he retired following a loss to Anderson Silva. He competed in one more fight, losing to Tito Ortiz via split decision at Bellator 131 in 2014.
“Stephan Bonnar was one of the most important fighters to ever compete in the Octagon,” UFC President Dana White said 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 also made appearances in pro wrestling, including independent appearances for House of Glory and IWS in 2017. He also appeared in Impact Wrestling in 2019, losing to Moose at that year’s Victory Road event.
The new issue of the Wrestling Observer is out right now. Among the highlights are:
The far more important story regarding Paul Levesque than his retirement from wrestling, which is his health, what he went through, and how that impacts his future both in and out of wrestling
WWE weekend shows, cards, ticket sales, secondary market sales, comps, Saturday main event, key results regarding the main event scene, the Hall of Fame, Shad Gaspard, Undertaker and NXT Stand & Deliver.
2021 Shad Gaspard/Jonathan Huber award winners
New Japan Cup final coverage, the angles building to Sumo Hall, MVP, best match poll and the final two shows.
Stardom’s two shows at Sumo Hall. A look at the key matches and what is next for the largest women’s wrestling company in the world.
Finances of UFC and WWE, including how they are so similar as businesses as well as where they are different. We also look at the key business deal each has that doesn’t involve TV rights and how WWE got so much of a better deal with a product that otherwise would have driven one-quarter the revenue and why
Full coverage of this week’s UFC show
Who was the best college heavyweight of all-time
More on the arrest of Chael Sonnen, why the felony charge was dropped and the lawsuit regarding the case
Ric Flair and Mark Madden
TV ratings and key points from those ratings for every show this week including peak segments, what type of viewers each show generates, who draws the youngest audience and how the shows rank with all of television and in the sports world.
The return of the Universal champion of champions tournament
More notes on the second Triplemania show this year
Notes on New Japan US shows
The wrestling career and post-wrestling life of the former Rocky King
Ordering Info: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
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If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
Friday News Update
For your coverage this weekend, I will be doing a show with Garrett tonight talking the news of the week, ROH and whatever else we can get into, and then Saturday and Sunday night after WrestleMania Bryan and I will be doing shows.
For the weekend, we’re doing polls, thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle and a best and worst match to for these shows:
ROH
NXT Stand & Deliver
Both nights of WrestleMania
Ashley Fliehr (Charlotte Flair) announced an in interview with Ariel Helwani that she would be getting married by Manny Andrade this summer in Mexico.
Of the bouts yesterday, the two most talked about based on what I’ve heard are Mike Bailey vs. Bandido from the Mark Hitchcock Memorial show, which also had the two split a $5,000 best fight bonus, and a brutal match at Bloodsport with Jon Moxley vs. Biff Busick.
UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar’s home in Henderson, NV, was destroyed on Monday in a fire. They lost everything but his family was able to escape with no physical damage.
The Jan Blachowicz vs. Aleksander Rakic fight is now scheduled for 5/14.
Aleksei Oleinik vs. Jared Venderaa is slated for the 4/9 show. Vanderaa replaces Ilir Latifi, who pulled out of the fight with an undisclosed illness.
Other Notes
MCW Breakthrough on4/16 in Havre de Grace, MD at The Theater at Havre de Grace.
Emily Ducote vs. Alesha Zappitella for the strawweight title headlines a 5/11 Invicta show. The location for the show and broadcast notes are to be announced.
PFL announced its second night of tournament play this year will be 4/28 from the Esports Stadium in Arlington, TX with these fights on ESPN 2:
Bruno Cappeloza (2021 heavyweight champion) vs. Stuart Austin
Brendan Loughnane vs.Ryuji Kudo
Ante Delija vs. Matheus Scheffel
Renen Ferreira vs. Jamelle Jones
PFL runs a Challengers Series show tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern from Orlando on the Fubo Sports Network:
Andrija Stankovic (170.8) vs. Louis Brewington (172.6)
Christian Turner(154.2) vs. Chayanne Serrano (154.4)
Alexei Pergande (155.2) vs. Joe Hamm (155.6)
Jaylon McDaniel (144.8) vs Daeri Alderman (145.4)
Santino Zurita (253.3) vs. Rakim Talley (230,.6)
Pro Wrestling Revolver on 4/16 in Clive, IA at the Horizon Events Center with Shane Strickland vs. Athena, Rich Swann vs. JT Dunn, Moose vs. Mike Bailey, Eddie Edwards & Davey Richards vs. Steve Maclin & Westin Blake, Jake Crist vs. Manders, Trey Miguel vs. Ace Austin vs. Blake Christian vs. Lince Doradom, Billie Starkz vs. Deonna Purrazzo and Jake Somethig vs. Madman Fulton vs. Jessicka Havok vs. Crash Jaxon vs. Beef vs. Grizzly Kal Jak.
Minoru Suzuki appears for AIW on 4/22 in Cleveland at the Odeum Concert Club.
Figure Four Daily with Bryan Alvarez and Josh Nason returns to talk the latest in MMA, including Dana White’s claim that as early as February, there will be nights where two major UFC events are taking place at the same time. Is it too many shows? Can there even be too many shows?
Then we’re joined by UFC light heavyweight Stephan Bonnar to discuss tons of subjects including his upcoming fight with Kyle Kingsbury, whether he gets sick of talking about the fight with Forrest Griffin, the claim that he’ll be with UFC for life, training with the original Carlson Gracie shortly before his death and what he was like, and so much more.
