to me this still stands out as the best fight i'ved watched. I'm sure there have been better ones but... my age, the moment, the tenacity of these dudes,.... we all won as viewers watching this fight. Stephan is a legend!!!!! RIP LOVE !
I was on opiate painkillers for 25 years to treat severe chronic pain! At one point, I was taking 300 mg of Morphine and 8 mg of Dilaudid at a time! Taking 10 mg of Oxycodone would've been just as effective as taking a Tic-tac. I got sick and tired of being sick and tired, as well as dealing with the stigma associated with opiate use. I decided to learn how to live with the pain 8 years ago and I'm glad I did. I realized I was never going to be pain-free anyway. At least I'm never going to go through withdrawals because of whatever caused it, losing a doctor, etc. I'm no longer on getting pain relief. I pray for everyone currently struggling!
amen friend, 10 years for me.. i now find alt options that are not dangerous.. infla-650 , and just recently ordered conolidine which is said to work well too.. still, tough to start exercising when always being in pain, the motivation is tough
@@ronlindsey5295 Hell Yeah me too brother. It's still probably the best fight ever. Bonnor for some reason always reminded me of Nicholas Cage if he was a jacked fighter. 😆
Definitely!!! .... I also fell down the hellish opioid rabbit hole after a horrendous motorcycle accident...while addicted and even when in recovery, many of my so - called "Friends" were nowhere to be found......Thanks to the support I found through my local Narcotics Anonymous chapter, I did manage to get clean and have been sober for 13 years this coming January ..... I can definitely relate to what Bonnar went through - a talented fighter to be sure, and definitely a tragic loss when someone so young and gifted dies prematurely!!!
@@abdulhamza172 so true!! - even after over 12 years of sobriety, I am still reminded of my fall from grace from people who never once saw me under the influence as I used in complete isolation....I guess it makes some people feel a sense of moral superiority? I now know who my true friends are and I am better off for it....
How do you know he wasn't being supported? In the end, addicts make the choice, and sometimes there's nothing more anyone can do. Also, imagine the hell he put other people in his life through. If he didn't realize he was rock bottom after the hospital video, then he was on his way out.
Definitely one of the dumbest fights, just cause the crowd went nuts dont mean it was one of the best. that was the sloppiest bs fights ive ever seen in my life.
@@chalkdemon8019 Well im not wrong, you cant tell how sloppy that fight was you dont train, im not gonna get all excited over 2 people recklessly punches the entire match all sloppy
You a clown. Sloppy punching fights are amazing. The most entertaining thing to watch is raw instinct , 2 people fighting for all they got. The pure biological , primitive nature is what everyone likes. Go watch people do precision and accuracy drills you nerd
I heard different from the people who knew him. CTE + drugs, usually equals a train wreck. Look at Conor, 10 years ago vs today. Now, its Nick Diaz. About a hundred others too. It's heart breaking.
Some never know what kind of demons people struggle with in daily life! Acting normal around everyone is a front to please but deep down inside……you and only yourself know your toxic fight locked up in the vault.
No, Big Pharma got the best of him. They have destroyed MILLIONS of lives and families, just for money/profits they dont even need! I hope and pray that people are held responsible for the opiate crisis and for the insanity of the way people who did not want to be jabbed were treated.
@sc12100 he's gone, man, and maybe broke. UFC is not. Should have set up a foundation to support the unfortunate fighters... or else what is so great about day and night slogan, MAGA.
17:37 I work in an emergency department as an RN and worked there throughout Covid. I totally understand what he’s saying about the doctor asking about his vaccination status. I’ve actually heard doctors say we should let them die if they’re not vaccinated. And the people they’re saying, let die. They’re there for something that has nothing to do with Covid. One person was hyperglycemic and one person had a suspected TIA.
Sure, sure. Also, I am from Mars. He should have gotten the vaccine. He was putting other people's lives in danger in a hospital. He was clearly drugged, and deranged. It was pathetic to watch, and then he tried to rationalize it after the fact.
My dad had a suspected TIA may of 2022. He's now dying of stage 4 prostate cancer. He didnt even know he had any cancer. Just the year before, in 2021, he was as healthy and strong anan ox. Was always working outside on the property. But ever since he took the covid vaccine and a booster, all health went to hell
@@bluntforcetrauma2141 Same thing happened to my dad. Navy veteran who could outdo all of his kids (hiked 2.5 miles a day up and down steep hills). Two weeks after getting the second COVID vaccine shot, he collapsed on the hiking trail. His health rapidly went downhill from there and most recently diagnosed with cancer as well.
And it was al bs. Those doctors were pissed because they were supposed to use the Vax for monetary purposes, not because they gave a shit. U rn's were full of shit too
RIP Stephan Bonar we witnessed your rise and peak in MMA and thankyou for being an amazing fighter and keystone foundational person in what we all enjoy right now.
Strickland is right. People that didn't care for someone when they needed it most shouldn't show care when the person has died. Humans are selfish animals who generally don't care for other people unless they get to benefit in some way!
You ever hear of the warrior they call Andy wang? He made that season the best ever. Dude will go down is one of the biggest warrior in the history of mankind!
His melt down at the hospital is extremely hard to watch. As a active opiate addict, I relate. It's literal hell and makes you question if life is worth living. RIP Stephan
Opiate addiction is Hell. My dad suffered and battled a addiction to opiates for 17 + years. Very few make it through the battle. Opioid withdrawal is brutal. I’ve witnessed them firsthand and man is it brutal. I remember him yelling and grunting wishing it would all just go away.
RIP Stephan. You were kind enough to shake my hand, sign your glove and take a picture. It was one of the coolest {shortest} conversations I had with anyone. You will be truly missed. "All heart and nutsack" were your last words to me 😅 - truly one of a kind. God keep you and bless your family until you meet them again 🙏🏼 ✝️
5:26 this must be such an emotional roller coaster. Imagine fighting someone you just lived with for months. Then losing. Then finding out they give you the same reward. Then becoming good friends for years after
Man he looked depleted at 44. Being a junkie just to get rid of your constant pain must be horrible. The UFC should have programs in place to help retired fighters like him.
All too common. If doctors were not under strict scrutiny from the DEA, millions of people would be alive today. People with chronic pain get cut off from their doctors so they go to the streets for Fentanyl, eventually overdosing. Sad.
That's ridiculous to say that the UFC should have programs for this. Where is the accountability for one's self? He could have gotten help, and I am sure that they did what they could, seeing as how he was pivotal to their growth. To sit here and assume they did nothing shows how fucking ignorant you are. Do you always make assumptions and claims with absolutely zero evidence of anything? You definitely use pronouns, that much is a fact.
Sorry as a pharmacist these drugs are too powerful. They physically change your brain. Very rarely once the drugs get ahold of you do they ever get off. They are just too strong.
RIP Stephen Bonnar 🕯😔 I'm an opioid addict, clean for my 7th year, been struggling for 20 yrs now. I don't wish this torment on anyone, it's absolute hell. When our brothers or sisters are beaten, battered and at the very end of their rope, plz extend a helping hand with a firm hug. It's extremely difficult to start that climb when one is defeated, mentally and physically. It's wayy easier for them to just let go when they have nothing left.
Hey,Wow ! We have a Physician with Pain Mgmt. Specialty. How long ago did you receive your Certificate ! Tnx for weighing in. U were S.Bonner's prescribing Physician, we suppose. Pray ur loved ones never suffer injuries to their Spine etc. Broken back/Neck !
Dana doesn't care about anything other than his bank account. He views his fighters like a farmer views a chicken : Once it stops laying eggs the chicken has no more value so it ends up in a stew pot. Dana got what he wanted out of Bonnar. Tons of exposure for the UFC, tons of money for the UFC, and Bonnar probably never had a million dollar fight. A lot of those guys in the early days were making absolute peanuts. Now Dana has his millions, the fighters have CTE and many are broke. I don't know how Dana sleeps at night.
@RUclipseeerrrr How does he know what Stephen Bonner is going through? Is he going to help every single person he's ever interacted with? He gave bonner a job with the UFC and the WEC. Why didn't all the media guys and fans that claim to care for the fighters do something? Why do you need Dana to do something?
@@DavePerry-h5rDana is responsible for anyone he's ever worked with? Do you hold yourself to the same standards? Why didn't you do something? Why didn't any of the media guys do something? You watch fighting so are you a problem as well? CTE wasn't well known until recently and everyone makes their own choices in life. Dana and the Fertittas took the UFC from nothing to a household name. Make sure you never watch another fight. BTW, Dana did give Bonner a job after his career ended. That's not enough though huh?
@@Xformat01Terribly said. Dana doesn't know what's going on in the lives of the thousands of people he's worked with. He has his own company and his own problems to deal with. Do you think he runs a rehab on the side? What did you do to help?
By the grace of god i met Stephan bonnar at a glory kickboxing event at a section in Madison Square Garden N.Y. in December 2017..He was very kind and we took pictures with him me and my father...R.I.P Stephan Bonnar🥲
I watched his entire MMA career unfold. I didnt know about his wrestling afterwards. I remember him dying but i dont recall the lethal levels of fentanyl being announced. Thats tragic on so many levels.
Waiiitttt, watched the MMA but HAD NO CLUE about the wrestling?!? Wow what a huge dedicated fan you were!! NOT. My god do you not realize how much of a fake inauthentic clown you sound like!
The pain he experienced is something none of us will ever feel. The drugs are there to temporarily make it go away. I cannot blame him for trying to feel normal again. RIP champ.
I have to say i know its not the UFC's responsibility but surely with the amount of money they've made off the backs of fighters they could help a bit with fighters as they retire, guide them or just keep in touch... feels like someone could have done something to help these warriors.
Bonnar Forrest Griffin and Liddell had a job for life with the UFC after retirement until the Fertitas sold the company and the new owners (I think Ari Emanuel) fired Bonnar and Liddell because those two guys barely showed up they were just collecting the check, Forrest Griffin on the other hand still has his job as ambassador for the company because Forrest STAYED in the UFC offices and building working and earning his check he knew it was a sweet job..
I don't think Stephan sounded easy to deal with. Refusing a vaccination in the middle of a pandemic, and walking into hospitals. Surely after asking for help, it was in his own interests to meet people half way.
Such a sad fate for one of the two men who literally saved the UFC. I started watching UFC because of the first season of TUF and I haven’t missed a single event since then. RIP Bonnar, I’ll never forget your legacy and what you did for this sport.
Yea it's sad bro he was clearly out of it, and obviously the only time that cop could feel good about himself. When we both know that cop minus the badge, costume, and help from 4 other guys with guns, he wouldn't have the same energy. But I didn't know he went through any of this, at least he's not suffering anymore. 🙏✌️
I worked with Stephan for a few years in the 90s at Roadway. He was trying to make some extra cash working part time. What I remember about him is he was always talking about working out and you could tell he was extremely competitive. He was also a great dude and very nice to everyone. RIP Stephan!
Stephan was the Epitome of how every American Man imagines themselves as, when put in an unbeatable situation, we all want to have the Heart and Drive and Guts to fight it out like Stephan would! He epitomizes the American HEART, the NEVER GIVE UP attitude, the standing tall in the face of unbeatable odds, the never giving up, never cowering. Thats who Stephan Bonnar is and will always be to me.
Rip brother thankyou for talking about your problems a fighter in every aspect of life. I hope you're happy, pain free and at peace. Much love to you and your family.
Always loved watching Stephen Bonnar. I always thought he could have been a great action movie star. He had the look and charisma for it. RIP!! You’ll be missed and remembered 🤙🏽
Sean is right. He needed help and no-one was there for him. There's only so much you can do though, short of locking him up and helping him through it, and that's a lot to ask of anyone, AND it's illegal. We should have a think about whether to allow that to happen without letting anyone abuse it, like Britney Spears or Kanye West and others were abused. I didn't know he was turned away because of V status. That guy should be have his license pulled.
I'm no popular UFC fighter but I've been fighting the same fight Stephen was and it's been an over 30 year bout. I hope this battle ends soon. RIP Stephen.
Unfortunately it's the way most people are. Can't be fucking bothered to help somebody but they'll sure take the opportunity to get attention from any kind of event that they can find.
RIP to the late great Stephan Bonner Watching this man throughout his career was a thrill and a pleasure for UFC fans like myself and many others A truly inspirational athlete and human being What a warrior
I was at the Henderson Hospital in Las Vegas when I saw him become unruly and kicked out of the ER. I couldnt recognize him. Sad man. Sad case all around.
Anyone else just so happen to randomly stumble upon that griffin/bonnar fight on tv back in 2005?! Have always felt like I was meant to see that fight and have been a fan since. Bonnar got to be part of something special and I hope we can all find that in our lives.
This man fought the way he did in MMA to please the fans and be exciting for all of us and he fuk his body up bad and once he crying for help and needed pills for pain everyone looks at him different like a junkie well R.I.P BONNER I KNOW WHAT YOU WERE FEELING LIKE
Its this guy that was one of the single most iconic things that was in every single fight fans head and either made you start to love ufc, sparked back an interest in ufc or kept you loving ufc still. But Forrest vs. bonnar is in all our heads for one of those reasons.
This is sad! I didn't know he passed until now. It's to bad the UFC and other organizations don't have something in play for athletes suffering after their career is over. I'm sure others have pain and mobility issues as well. He really just wanted some help! May he rest in peace. Gone but never forgotten.
Bro was one of a kind. Humble, charismatic, a absolute chad. He put his body through the ringer for love of a sport that he was able to bring to so many people. I remember being 16 watching this fight live and knowing nothing of the UFC before the show. I was fucking hooked. You'll be missed bro.
I had no idea he passed away close to 2 years ago. Wow that’s horrible:( As one that also suffered from pain and opioid addiction for 20 years…I see the addiction in him, all these people saying good things about him came too late. The man needed help and all the nice comments came too late.
It shows that most people are only there when things are going well...should you fall and have nothing left to offer, you are a ghost. Truly a sad ending of a life that needed people to step up for him, just as he stood up for the UFC.
OMG, HOW DID I NOT HEAR HE PASSED?! I'm just learning this today. His fight with Forrest Griffin has always been my all time fav fight. It was vicious! RIP
Stephan truly great fighter Could dish it out and take it A true all round fighter Stunning fight v Forrest i thought he won it but so glad he also got a contact. God bless Stephan❤️
@@shanghunter7697 how could you make that determination from this comment of mine, infact my comment is factually correct and accurate so if you like people that tell you the truth and actually speak in reality and don’t just talk actual bullchit and lies and make up funny nonsensical crap the. Yes, I’m a great person to be around if you actually like to talk about reality and common sense and truth! If you’re just a mindless brain dead loser that just likes to tell fart and diq jokes the. No, I don’t do low brow low frequency shit well at all. You morons can have that Sunday football talk all you want, I don’t do that mainstream sports retahhded type mindless bull biting that most men and average sheep women do in America. I actually have travelled around the world a couple times, I have cultured experiences to talk of and share and trade in talk. 🤦♂🤦♂🫣🫣🤣🤣
Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin was/is The Greatest Fight in MMA history. I was one of the 12 million that got the phone-call “Dude, you GOTTA watch this fight!! It’s on RIGHT NOW!!” I did, along with millions more and the rest, as they say, has been IMMORTALIZED!!!
Christ brother, I didn't even hear him say a word, Bonner was nodded hard, he didn't even look awake and the cops had to act like total douche bags. I get he was faded, but the dumb shit talking, acting tough pisses me off to no end. I use to be a cop supporter during the BLM crap, but now I see a massive police force in my small Kentucky town fucking with everyone from druggies to old ladies to soccer moms because they're the hired help to make money for my "Commonwealth" Fuck those dudes running their mouths to him.
I cried when Stephen died. I’d been keeping up with his legal trouble and I saw it coming. I was hoping he could get it together. Truly broke my heart.
Really was one of the people that saved MMA and UFC for everyone. That first TUF got me and all my friends into the best sport on earth. Really a shame. RIP American Psycho
How much money and growth did the UFC earn after the Bonnar Griffen fight? And how much did those fighters make from that? UFC cares about profits more than fighters.
UFC made billions. Bonnar? He might have made a couple of million, big maybe. The highest paid UFC fighter in 2009 was Brock Lesnar, and he was only getting $1.5 million per fight. The under card guys at that time were sometimes getting $10k or less. The shows they were fighting on were selling hundreds of thousands of PPC buys though, and the gate alone was worth millions.... The UFC probably made enough on the gate to pay their fighters and expenses, and the PPV was all gravy.... And they were doing big shows all the time.
i remember the ultimate fighter final vs forrest griffin.. that shit is embedded in my head, thank you being a bad ass mfer and the entertainment you gave us as fans
Prior to Covid I trained MMA at Venum gym in Las Vegas. Stefan was one of the boxing coaches. The man was very nice and personable. After Covid the Venum gym did not reopen and I lost touch with the trainees and coaches. I had no idea this happened until just now. Very sad.
A little bit off main topic. But just had to say it. Man, Diego is a gem of a friend. Also, Griffin Bonnar, that's adorable. Great video, thanks Flashback MMA!
Bonnar vs Forest was and is one of the greatest battles in the octagon
His fight saved the ufc
No shit 😂
to me this still stands out as the best fight i'ved watched. I'm sure there have been better ones but... my age, the moment, the tenacity of these dudes,.... we all won as viewers watching this fight. Stephan is a legend!!!!! RIP LOVE !
💯💪🏿Factz
When I think of the baddest battles in the UFC, this fight definitely comes to mind
I was on opiate painkillers for 25 years to treat severe chronic pain! At one point, I was taking 300 mg of Morphine and 8 mg of Dilaudid at a time! Taking 10 mg of Oxycodone would've been just as effective as taking a Tic-tac. I got sick and tired of being sick and tired, as well as dealing with the stigma associated with opiate use. I decided to learn how to live with the pain 8 years ago and I'm glad I did. I realized I was never going to be pain-free anyway. At least I'm never going to go through withdrawals because of whatever caused it, losing a doctor, etc. I'm no longer on getting pain relief. I pray for everyone currently struggling!
Massages, electric stimulation, hot tubs, saunas all help too.
amen friend, 10 years for me.. i now find alt options that are not dangerous.. infla-650 , and just recently ordered conolidine which is said to work well too.. still, tough to start exercising when always being in pain, the motivation is tough
Oxy 80s and msc contin .100s ....hell
Dana drags these dudes through the mud until they sink.
And then moves on to his next victim. He's a billionaire, and the fighters die broke.
🙌 Congratulations on the hard work! Just got through my battle and am clean aswell
His fight with Forest is what really got me hooked on UFC. Hurts when you see a hero fall. Never forgotten , rest easy.
@@ronlindsey5295 Hell Yeah me too brother. It's still probably the best fight ever. Bonnor for some reason always reminded me of Nicholas Cage if he was a jacked fighter. 😆
@@AlfonseGambinoI was thinking the same thing.
Hero? I think you need a dictionary. For the record SB was a badass.
Strickland is correct on this one. If you never was there during his struggles than dont be now once hes gone.
Definitely!!! .... I also fell down the hellish opioid rabbit hole after a horrendous motorcycle accident...while addicted and even when in recovery, many of my so - called "Friends" were nowhere to be found......Thanks to the support I found through my local Narcotics Anonymous chapter, I did manage to get clean and have been sober for 13 years this coming January ..... I can definitely relate to what Bonnar went through - a talented fighter to be sure, and definitely a tragic loss when someone so young and gifted dies prematurely!!!
@drewcunningham2 I'm glad you found the needed support.
Not all friends and family are FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
@@abdulhamza172 so true!! - even after over 12 years of sobriety, I am still reminded of my fall from grace from people who never once saw me under the influence as I used in complete isolation....I guess it makes some people feel a sense of moral superiority? I now know who my true friends are and I am better off for it....
RIP
How do you know he wasn't being supported? In the end, addicts make the choice, and sometimes there's nothing more anyone can do. Also, imagine the hell he put other people in his life through. If he didn't realize he was rock bottom after the hospital video, then he was on his way out.
To this day still one of the best fights ever. RIP Mr. Bonnar
Definitely one of the dumbest fights, just cause the crowd went nuts dont mean it was one of the best. that was the sloppiest bs fights ive ever seen in my life.
@@casketthefriendlybed9699there always has to be that one.😅
@@chalkdemon8019 Well im not wrong, you cant tell how sloppy that fight was you dont train, im not gonna get all excited over 2 people recklessly punches the entire match all sloppy
You a clown. Sloppy punching fights are amazing. The most entertaining thing to watch is raw instinct , 2 people fighting for all they got. The pure biological , primitive nature is what everyone likes. Go watch people do precision and accuracy drills you nerd
He was a good guy addiction is a horrible dark place to be RIP mate ❤
Who the Fuk said he was an addict. get an education in pain mgmt. Big/Huge difference between "addict" & "Dependent". fukwads !
Addicts aren't good guys, they're jerks.
I heard different from the people who knew him. CTE + drugs, usually equals a train wreck.
Look at Conor, 10 years ago vs today.
Now, its Nick Diaz.
About a hundred others too. It's heart breaking.
Some never know what kind of demons people struggle with in daily life! Acting normal around everyone is a front to please but deep down inside……you and only yourself know your toxic fight locked up in the vault.
Thats not true. You're silly. Some of them are
Guy was a true warrior he gave it all and the sport got the best of him 😢
No, Big Pharma got the best of him.
They have destroyed MILLIONS of lives and families, just for money/profits they dont even need!
I hope and pray that people are held responsible for the opiate crisis and for the insanity of the way people who did not want to be jabbed were treated.
Man is 1 of the reasons the UFC is what it is today, certified badass and legend.
It's never too late. Dana and UFC can still support his family, his son and wife in the memory of his legacy...
Yes, but they ain't gonna.
That’s really stephen’s responsibility and not the UFC’s.
@sc12100 he's gone, man, and maybe broke. UFC is not. Should have set up a foundation to support the unfortunate fighters... or else what is so great about day and night slogan, MAGA.
This should be a law .that in there bad state..a fund should be provided for tuff times.i hope they best for his family.
@oceanyt8 not UFCs responsibility
17:37 I work in an emergency department as an RN and worked there throughout Covid. I totally understand what he’s saying about the doctor asking about his vaccination status. I’ve actually heard doctors say we should let them die if they’re not vaccinated. And the people they’re saying, let die. They’re there for something that has nothing to do with Covid. One person was hyperglycemic and one person had a suspected TIA.
Sure, sure. Also, I am from Mars. He should have gotten the vaccine. He was putting other people's lives in danger in a hospital. He was clearly drugged, and deranged. It was pathetic to watch, and then he tried to rationalize it after the fact.
My dad had a suspected TIA may of 2022. He's now dying of stage 4 prostate cancer. He didnt even know he had any cancer. Just the year before, in 2021, he was as healthy and strong anan ox. Was always working outside on the property. But ever since he took the covid vaccine and a booster, all health went to hell
Covid was a wake up call to everyone NOT TO TRUST DOCTORS AT ALL
@@bluntforcetrauma2141
Same thing happened to my dad. Navy veteran who could outdo all of his kids (hiked 2.5 miles a day up and down steep hills). Two weeks after getting the second COVID vaccine shot, he collapsed on the hiking trail. His health rapidly went downhill from there and most recently diagnosed with cancer as well.
And it was al bs. Those doctors were pissed because they were supposed to use the Vax for monetary purposes, not because they gave a shit. U rn's were full of shit too
Bonnar vs Griffin will forever be one of the best fights the UFC has ever put on
Hell no but it was ez top ten for the longest time, and still top ten quality even though it's pretty bare for skill
It literally made the UFC what it is today
@@voidofhope6259 think for yourself Stop following the crowd
RIP Stephan Bonar we witnessed your rise and peak in MMA and thankyou for being an amazing fighter and keystone foundational person in what we all enjoy right now.
Strickland is right. People that didn't care for someone when they needed it most shouldn't show care when the person has died. Humans are selfish animals who generally don't care for other people unless they get to benefit in some way!
He wont see your comment, hes dead dude.
He and Forrest are what made so many watch UFC. They both have made the UFC what it is today
This is heartbreaking. I see a failed healthcare system that failed yet another person who died because of their actions.
Thank you for this video! I finally know the whole story! RIP Bonnar, You will be missed!
First season of ultimate fighter was the best season.
You ever hear of the warrior they call Andy wang? He made that season the best ever. Dude will go down is one of the biggest warrior in the history of mankind!
His melt down at the hospital is extremely hard to watch. As a active opiate addict, I relate. It's literal hell and makes you question if life is worth living. RIP Stephan
Opiate addiction is Hell. My dad suffered and battled a addiction to opiates for 17 + years. Very few make it through the battle. Opioid withdrawal is brutal. I’ve witnessed them firsthand and man is it brutal. I remember him yelling and grunting wishing it would all just go away.
RIP Stephan. You were kind enough to shake my hand, sign your glove and take a picture. It was one of the coolest {shortest} conversations I had with anyone. You will be truly missed.
"All heart and nutsack" were your last words to me 😅 - truly one of a kind. God keep you and bless your family until you meet them again 🙏🏼 ✝️
5:26 this must be such an emotional roller coaster. Imagine fighting someone you just lived with for months. Then losing. Then finding out they give you the same reward. Then becoming good friends for years after
RIP Stephen ❤️🙏😇 No more pain or suffering my friend .. Rest In Paradise ❤️🩹
He’s resting in dirt with only bones no more boners how is that nice?
@JimmyJaime-su5px Don't assume there's a paradise to begin with.
*Stephan
@@FuriousGeorge81maybe don't tell people what to assume. Or that you're right. Or that anything matters. Or that nothing matters.
Man he looked depleted at 44. Being a junkie just to get rid of your constant pain must be horrible. The UFC should have programs in place to help retired fighters like him.
All too common. If doctors were not under strict scrutiny from the DEA, millions of people would be alive today. People with chronic pain get cut off from their doctors so they go to the streets for Fentanyl, eventually overdosing. Sad.
That's ridiculous to say that the UFC should have programs for this. Where is the accountability for one's self? He could have gotten help, and I am sure that they did what they could, seeing as how he was pivotal to their growth.
To sit here and assume they did nothing shows how fucking ignorant you are. Do you always make assumptions and claims with absolutely zero evidence of anything? You definitely use pronouns, that much is a fact.
UFC Is a monster. It uses You and spits You out. Dana White Is a molester of people.
Sorry as a pharmacist these drugs are too powerful. They physically change your brain. Very rarely once the drugs get ahold of you do they ever get off. They are just too strong.
@@professorvoluck9311Exactly. Imo, the government shouldn’t have a say in a persons choice to make their own medical decisions.
R.I.P To a mma legend rest in peace brother
Not your brother
You don't know that clown.
Shut up moron @@ImperialCityNord
@@ImperialCityNord Baby, you dropped your pacifier!
RIP Stephen Bonnar 🕯😔
I'm an opioid addict, clean for my 7th year, been struggling for 20 yrs now. I don't wish this torment on anyone, it's absolute hell. When our brothers or sisters are beaten, battered and at the very end of their rope, plz extend a helping hand with a firm hug. It's extremely difficult to start that climb when one is defeated, mentally and physically. It's wayy easier for them to just let go when they have nothing left.
Life gets real intense as we age my heart goes out to anyone struggling like that drugs and alcohol over the years will do this
Hey,Wow ! We have a Physician with Pain Mgmt. Specialty. How long ago did you receive your Certificate ! Tnx for weighing in. U were S.Bonner's prescribing Physician, we suppose. Pray ur loved ones never suffer injuries to their Spine etc. Broken back/Neck !
@@waynerain2372you're the real physician right?
@robgotti184 yes @waynerain is my proctologist and he is very knowledgeable when it involves the anus😊
Pain management lol. That's a myth. Go take your Adderall for adhd, Xanax, for anxiety, fentanyl for pain, and Prozac for stability.
Dana could have helped Stephen. This wasn't just another fighter, this was one of the guys who helped save the ufc.
Well said!!!
Dana doesn't care about anything other than his bank account. He views his fighters like a farmer views a chicken : Once it stops laying eggs the chicken has no more value so it ends up in a stew pot.
Dana got what he wanted out of Bonnar. Tons of exposure for the UFC, tons of money for the UFC, and Bonnar probably never had a million dollar fight. A lot of those guys in the early days were making absolute peanuts.
Now Dana has his millions, the fighters have CTE and many are broke. I don't know how Dana sleeps at night.
@RUclipseeerrrr How does he know what Stephen Bonner is going through? Is he going to help every single person he's ever interacted with? He gave bonner a job with the UFC and the WEC. Why didn't all the media guys and fans that claim to care for the fighters do something? Why do you need Dana to do something?
@@DavePerry-h5rDana is responsible for anyone he's ever worked with? Do you hold yourself to the same standards? Why didn't you do something? Why didn't any of the media guys do something? You watch fighting so are you a problem as well? CTE wasn't well known until recently and everyone makes their own choices in life. Dana and the Fertittas took the UFC from nothing to a household name. Make sure you never watch another fight. BTW, Dana did give Bonner a job after his career ended. That's not enough though huh?
@@Xformat01Terribly said. Dana doesn't know what's going on in the lives of the thousands of people he's worked with. He has his own company and his own problems to deal with. Do you think he runs a rehab on the side? What did you do to help?
By the grace of god i met Stephan bonnar at a glory kickboxing event at a section in Madison Square Garden N.Y. in December 2017..He was very kind and we took pictures with him me and my father...R.I.P Stephan Bonnar🥲
I watched his entire MMA career unfold. I didnt know about his wrestling afterwards. I remember him dying but i dont recall the lethal levels of fentanyl being announced. Thats tragic on so many levels.
A lethal level of fetynal is the size of a tiny piece of dust, please just say no like Nancy used to say.
Waiiitttt, watched the MMA but HAD NO CLUE about the wrestling?!? Wow what a huge dedicated fan you were!! NOT. My god do you not realize how much of a fake inauthentic clown you sound like!
Man that's truly sad, sorry he had to go out like that, chronic pain will drive you insane certainly. RIP legend
The pain he experienced is something none of us will ever feel. The drugs are there to temporarily make it go away. I cannot blame him for trying to feel normal again. RIP champ.
I have to say i know its not the UFC's responsibility but surely with the amount of money they've made off the backs of fighters they could help a bit with fighters as they retire, guide them or just keep in touch... feels like someone could have done something to help these warriors.
you CAN`T guide an addicted! trust me
Dana did help him quite a bit over the years.
Bonnar Forrest Griffin and Liddell had a job for life with the UFC after retirement until the Fertitas sold the company and the new owners (I think Ari Emanuel) fired Bonnar and Liddell because those two guys barely showed up they were just collecting the check, Forrest Griffin on the other hand still has his job as ambassador for the company because Forrest STAYED in the UFC offices and building working and earning his check he knew it was a sweet job..
@stress6992 truth...only the addict can help himself...
I don't think Stephan sounded easy to deal with. Refusing a vaccination in the middle of a pandemic, and walking into hospitals. Surely after asking for help, it was in his own interests to meet people half way.
This guy is partly responsible for me becoming a UFC fan. I was one of those people who watched that Bonnar Vs Griffin fight, I think on spike tv
Such a sad fate for one of the two men who literally saved the UFC. I started watching UFC because of the first season of TUF and I haven’t missed a single event since then.
RIP Bonnar, I’ll never forget your legacy and what you did for this sport.
Cop pulling an unconscious Bonnar out of his car: “You picked the wrong group of guys, dude.”
Bonnar, unconscious: “…..”
Lol.
Yea it's sad bro he was clearly out of it, and obviously the only time that cop could feel good about himself.
When we both know that cop minus the badge, costume, and help from 4 other guys with guns, he wouldn't have the same energy.
But I didn't know he went through any of this, at least he's not suffering anymore. 🙏✌️
Literal NPCs going through the motions
sociopaths
Love sniffing 30s
Power tripping smal dick energy idiots
I worked with Stephan for a few years in the 90s at Roadway. He was trying to make some extra cash working part time. What I remember about him is he was always talking about working out and you could tell he was extremely competitive. He was also a great dude and very nice to everyone. RIP Stephan!
Stephan was the Epitome of how every American Man imagines themselves as, when put in an unbeatable situation, we all want to have the Heart and Drive and Guts to fight it out like Stephan would! He epitomizes the American HEART, the NEVER GIVE UP attitude, the standing tall in the face of unbeatable odds, the never giving up, never cowering. Thats who Stephan Bonnar is and will always be to me.
Well said my friend...
It still sucks. He was one of my favorite fighters of all time. One of the main reasons I became a UFC fan. RIP Mr Bonnar.
Rip brother thankyou for talking about your problems a fighter in every aspect of life. I hope you're happy, pain free and at peace. Much love to you and your family.
Always loved watching Stephen Bonnar. I always thought he could have been a great action movie star. He had the look and charisma for it. RIP!! You’ll be missed and remembered 🤙🏽
I had never noticed how much Bonnar looks like Chael Sonnen!
You are loved and respected Stephan.
We’re sorry about your troubles.
God’s blessings on your family.
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Such a sad story, but Bonnar will never be forgotten. He is part of MMA history forever!
Sean is right. He needed help and no-one was there for him.
There's only so much you can do though, short of locking him up and helping him through it, and that's a lot to ask of anyone, AND it's illegal. We should have a think about whether to allow that to happen without letting anyone abuse it, like Britney Spears or Kanye West and others were abused.
I didn't know he was turned away because of V status. That guy should be have his license pulled.
Sad, that his life spiraled out of control to this degree. SB was a real one. RIP
I don't think he spiraled.
I'm no popular UFC fighter but I've been fighting the same fight Stephen was and it's been an over 30 year bout. I hope this battle ends soon. RIP Stephen.
Very sad😢..R.I.P. Stephan...
😢 the way Shawn Strickland talks about supporting him makes me think of my family when dad was on his deathbed.
Unfortunately it's the way most people are. Can't be fucking bothered to help somebody but they'll sure take the opportunity to get attention from any kind of event that they can find.
Addiction the only disease that people shame and demonize you for having.
This is an extremely sad video, God be with Mr Bonnar RIP and his surviving family...✝✝
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
RIP to the late great Stephan Bonner
Watching this man throughout his career was a thrill and a pleasure for UFC fans like myself and many others
A truly inspirational athlete and human being
What a warrior
I was at the Henderson Hospital in Las Vegas when I saw him become unruly and kicked out of the ER. I couldnt recognize him. Sad man. Sad case all around.
Anyone else just so happen to randomly stumble upon that griffin/bonnar fight on tv back in 2005?! Have always felt like I was meant to see that fight and have been a fan since. Bonnar got to be part of something special and I hope we can all find that in our lives.
the man saved ufc and ufc turned its back on him, disgraceful by dana white.
Extensively tough to watch the decline of a pugilist and warrior who was admired by so many for his grit and heart.
Another soul lost to the evils of big pharma. RIP Stephan, the fans will always remember you 🙏🙏
I lost my best friend to addiction 4 years ago and 5 kids I grew up with seeing these stories never gets easy.
This man fought the way he did in MMA to please the fans and be exciting for all of us and he fuk his body up bad and once he crying for help and needed pills for pain everyone looks at him different like a junkie well R.I.P BONNER I KNOW WHAT YOU WERE FEELING LIKE
😔
Its this guy that was one of the single most iconic things that was in every single fight fans head and either made you start to love ufc, sparked back an interest in ufc or kept you loving ufc still. But Forrest vs. bonnar is in all our heads for one of those reasons.
I almost cried when they were talking about Bonner and griffin fighter their hearts out leaving it all in the cage.
Rip Bonnar man, was sad then, was heartbreaking to hear you lost the fight with life, and still hurts to see your story. Rest easy friend
This is sad! I didn't know he passed until now. It's to bad the UFC and other organizations don't have something in play for athletes suffering after their career is over. I'm sure others have pain and mobility issues as well. He really just wanted some help! May he rest in peace. Gone but never forgotten.
Bro was one of a kind. Humble, charismatic, a absolute chad. He put his body through the ringer for love of a sport that he was able to bring to so many people. I remember being 16 watching this fight live and knowing nothing of the UFC before the show. I was fucking hooked. You'll be missed bro.
I had no idea he passed away close to 2 years ago. Wow that’s horrible:(
As one that also suffered from pain and opioid addiction for 20 years…I see the addiction in him, all these people saying good things about him came too late. The man needed help and all the nice comments came too late.
Cops: you picked the wrong group of guys!
Stephen:… passed out unconscious.
It shows that most people are only there when things are going well...should you fall and have nothing left to offer, you are a ghost. Truly a sad ending of a life that needed people to step up for him, just as he stood up for the UFC.
this is a great documentary thanks for covering this legend fly high brother
RIP to one of the all timers. Sucks that people fall through the cracks like this and lose themselves to drugs. Prayers for him and his family.
Dana throwing retired fighters like shit😢
Medical Institutions is messed up. 45 years old is too young.
OMG, HOW DID I NOT HEAR HE PASSED?! I'm just learning this today. His fight with Forrest Griffin has always been my all time fav fight. It was vicious! RIP
Shocking how they treated him , and how the cops handled him
Shocking
He needed care
Shane on you America
Stephan truly great fighter
Could dish it out and take it
A true all round fighter
Stunning fight v Forrest i thought he won it but so glad he also got a contact.
God bless Stephan❤️
Thanks for the excellent video. So sad; I hope his wife and son are doing okay.
Thank you 👊
The comment made by Nate Quarry about breaking a man's body but you can't break his heart and his drive was so true.
Didn't know he'd even passed away,, very sad story.
Same
@@bluntforcetrauma2141 becuase you guys were such dedicated hardcore mma fans right! Haha
@@hoopslaa5235 OH yes, you're def lot of fun to be around or live with.
@@shanghunter7697 how could you make that determination from this comment of mine, infact my comment is factually correct and accurate so if you like people that tell you the truth and actually speak in reality and don’t just talk actual bullchit and lies and make up funny nonsensical crap the. Yes, I’m a great person to be around if you actually like to talk about reality and common sense and truth! If you’re just a mindless brain dead loser that just likes to tell fart and diq jokes the. No, I don’t do low brow low frequency shit well at all. You morons can have that Sunday football talk all you want, I don’t do that mainstream sports retahhded type mindless bull biting that most men and average sheep women do in America. I actually have travelled around the world a couple times, I have cultured experiences to talk of and share and trade in talk. 🤦♂🤦♂🫣🫣🤣🤣
My heart goes out to Stephan Bonnar's family and friends. His fight with Forrest Griffin was what put the UFC on the map. He'll be forever missed😢
he speaks all facts .
I can totally relate to Bonnar’s story! Living that exact same situation getting blown off by the VA for simply trying to get treatment. RIP Bonnar.
He is one half of why is UFC is today. Fight seen around the world. Gave its much needed boost at the time. To put UFC on the map. Rip Bonner.
Tragic to see CTE is the most heartbreaking thing one day your a hero next day your treated like a parasite,poor guy suffering horrendously 😢
Dude took what the Gracies started and poured gas on the fire for all of us to fall in love with the sport. God Bless and Rest Well Champ.
cracking up at the cop "you picked the wrong group of guys" like Bonnar took a swing at them. Dude was comatose in his whip.
*overall video is sad af though. damn.
How can you laugh at that
Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin was/is The Greatest Fight in MMA history. I was one of the 12 million that got the phone-call “Dude, you GOTTA watch this fight!! It’s on RIGHT NOW!!” I did, along with millions more and the rest, as they say, has been IMMORTALIZED!!!
Omg I didn’t know he died… 2 years ago! RIP legend
“Picked the wrong group of guys dude” them guys are lucky he was under influence
Christ brother, I didn't even hear him say a word, Bonner was nodded hard, he didn't even look awake and the cops had to act like total douche bags.
I get he was faded, but the dumb shit talking, acting tough pisses me off to no end. I use to be a cop supporter during the BLM crap, but now I see a massive police force in my small Kentucky town fucking with everyone from druggies to old ladies to soccer moms because they're the hired help to make money for my "Commonwealth"
Fuck those dudes running their mouths to him.
RIP Bonnar. He was a beast and it was an honor watching him fight
Fertitta family made millions while these men die in horrible pain
It's what mobsters do $$$$$ they care nothing about family, friends, wives, etc. $$$$$ IS the ONLY thing they care about.
Greed by all
He was a warrior & had that fighting spirit❗💯 R.I.P. 1 ♡.
Rest in peace King
Thank you so much for doing this.
I cried when Stephen died. I’d been keeping up with his legal trouble and I saw it coming. I was hoping he could get it together. Truly broke my heart.
*Stephan
RIP Stephan Bonnar 🙏
Bonnar/Griffin was my first UFC fight. What an intro. It’s legend
Nicholas Cage could play Bonnar in a movie about his life ... R.I.P. -The world failed you
haha nicholas cage is too old. young cage could
he sucks, always has
maybe brokeback mountain 2 or a new jaguar ad
Cage is like 60. 😅
Really was one of the people that saved MMA and UFC for everyone. That first TUF got me and all my friends into the best sport on earth. Really a shame. RIP American Psycho
How much money and growth did the UFC earn after the Bonnar Griffen fight? And how much did those fighters make from that? UFC cares about profits more than fighters.
Late stage capitalism.
Jip
Wow you’re sooo original and creative! Wow no one has ever said that before! You just opened my eyes with this! God you’re soo smart!
UFC made billions. Bonnar? He might have made a couple of million, big maybe.
The highest paid UFC fighter in 2009 was Brock Lesnar, and he was only getting $1.5 million per fight. The under card guys at that time were sometimes getting $10k or less. The shows they were fighting on were selling hundreds of thousands of PPC buys though, and the gate alone was worth millions.... The UFC probably made enough on the gate to pay their fighters and expenses, and the PPV was all gravy.... And they were doing big shows all the time.
maybe 300k and 90k in medical costs
i remember the ultimate fighter final vs forrest griffin.. that shit is embedded in my head, thank you being a bad ass mfer and the entertainment you gave us as fans
Prior to Covid I trained MMA at Venum gym in Las Vegas. Stefan was one of the boxing coaches. The man was very nice and personable. After Covid the Venum gym did not reopen and I lost touch with the trainees and coaches. I had no idea this happened until just now. Very sad.
A little bit off main topic. But just had to say it.
Man, Diego is a gem of a friend.
Also, Griffin Bonnar, that's adorable.
Great video, thanks Flashback MMA!
This should be mandatory viewing for all kids in their early 20’s wanting to make a career in the UFC!
Sorry we failed you Stephen Bonner.
Ugh. *Stephan *Bonnar
Man this got me emotional I feel that pain I relate God bless Him and his family he is no longer in pain he made peace with pain 🙏
Peace be with you and your family! Don't worry everyone, he made it to heaven :) Eternal life, Amen!