The UFC announced that former light heavyweight champion/original “Ultimate Fighter” Forrest Griffin would be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame at the post-fight press conference for UFC 160 on May 25.
In a move that has been heavily debated by fans and analysts alike, the first TUF runner-up, Stephan Bonnar, will be joining him.
“The American Psycho” had not weighed in on the honor until Friday, when he made an appearance on AXS TV’s Inside MMA. Bonnar seemed to be legitimately surprised to be so fortunate (via MMA Mania):
“I never even dreamed [of being in the Hall of Fame],” Bonnar said. “I did this as a hobby, I got picked for the show and just that was enough for me — I could have died happy there … If they want to put me in the Hall of Fame then like, my god what an honor, I never really expected it … just what an honor.”
Bonnar’s last appearance in the Octagon was at UFC 153 in October, losing a light heavyweight bout to middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva via first-round TKO.
The fan-friendly brawler failed his second post-fight drug test after the bout, testing positive for the anabolic steroid Drostanolone.
Prior to that matchup, Bonnar had won three straight fights, though he was still just 3-3 in his past six outings inside the Octagon.
The 36-year-old black belt in both Brazilian jiu-jitsu and taekwondo finished his career with a 15-8 overall record, never getting within striking distance of a title shot in the UFC’s light heavyweight division.
Love or hate the decision to add Bonnar to the UFC Hall of Fame, he joins former champions and pioneers of the sport such as Royce Gracie, Chuck Liddell, Matt Hughes, Randy Couture and Tito Ortiz, among others.
After his historic brawl with Griffin in April 2005, did Bonnar do everything he needed to earn a spot among other legends of the sport?
John Heinis is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com and contributes MMA videos to The Young Turks Sports Show.
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