Las Vegas, NV – The UFC will hold a Celebration Of Life for the late Stephan Bonnar at the UFC APEX on Sunday morning.
The celebration will be available on livestream above. It kicks off live from the UFC APEX at 11amPT/2pmET.
Bonnar, 45, passes away on Dec. 22, 2022 due to heart complications according to the UFC.
UFC president Dana White released a statement at the time saying,” Stephan Bonnar was one of the most important fighters to ever compete in the Octagon. His fight with Forrest Griffin changes the sport forever, and he will never be forgotten. The fans loves him, related to him, and he always gave them his best. He will be missed.”
Bonnar was one half of what White and many others credit as the fight that saved the promotion. At The Ultimate Fighter Season 1’s finale Bonnad and Forest Griffin put on a spectacular fight to decide who would win the first TUF contract with the UFC.
#OnThisDay in 2005: The fight that changed everything between Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar!
📺 Watch all over again on @UFCFightPass pic.twitter.com/T19gYVFxZA
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) April 9, 2021
In the end Griffin won the fight and earned the contract, but the UFC also signed Bonnar after an incredible fight.
Bonnar finished his career with a record of 15-9. Most of his 24 professional fights were spent in the UFC.
In the octagon Bonnar faced many soon-to-be legends such as Griffin, Rashad Evans, Jon Jones, and Anderson Silva. He then took on Tito Ortiz in at Bellator 131 in 2014 which would end up being his last professional bout.
