UFC Hall Of Famer Stephan Bonnar Dies at 45: Cause of Death Revealed

Stephan Bonnar, an American professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who competed in the UFC, Bellator, and Impact Wrestling, is dead at the age of 45. Read on to learn how did Stephan Bonnar die, what happened to him, and what was the cause of his death.

The legendary fighter was popularly called “The American Psycho.” He competed in the key fight against Forrest Griffin in April 2005 at “The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale” which helped UFC come back on track amidst struggling times.

Although Bonnar lost against Griffin, their bout was inducted into the Fight Wing of the UFC Hall of Fame in 2013.

Who was Stephan Bonnar?

Stephan Bonnar was an American professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. He was born on April 4, 1977, in Hammond, Indiana, and was raised in Munster. He went to Munster High School and started wrestling just at the age of 10, Tae Kwon Do at the age of 12, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 22.

He also learned Boxing and Muay Thai when he turned 24. He earned his black belt in Tae Kwon Do at the age of 16. In 2000, Bonnar graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Sports Medicine.

Bonnar competed in the Light Heavyweight division of the UFC for most of his career. He played the role of the underdog despite being a highly skilled fighter. This particular aspect was highly exemplified in his ultimate fight against Anderson Silva at UFC 153.

Stephan Bonnar competed 26 times as a professional fighter. 15 out of those appearances came in the UFC while one came in Bellator. He made his professional debut in 2001 and his UFC debut came eight fights later.

How did Stephan Bonnar die?

Former UFC fighter Stephan Bonnar died on Thursday, December 22, 2022. He was just 45 years old at the time of his death. The unfortunate news of the legendary fighter’s death was announced this Saturday by the UFC itself.

“The UFC family is saddened by the passing of UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar. We send our sincerest condolences to his family and friends,” the promotion’s official Twitter handle tweeted on Christmas Eve

UFC boss Dana White also acknowledged Stephan Bonnar’s competition to the sport while paying respect to his soul. “Stephan Bonnar was one of the most important fighters to ever compete in the octagon,” White said in a statement.

He added: “His fight with Forrest Griffin changed the sport forever, and he will never be forgotten. The fans loved him and related to him, and he always gave them his best. He will be missed.”


Stephan Bonnar dead: What was the cause of his death?

Legendary fighter Stephan Bonnar died of “presumed heart complications while at work” on Thursday as per the UFC’s news release. The cause of the death of Stephan Bonnar was confirmed by the promotion after fans were concerned about the tragic event.

Bonnar was just 45 years old. He retired from the UFC in 2012 after a defeat against Anderson Silva. However, he returned to the ring for Impact Wrestling in 2019. In 2020, he re-entered the MMA circuit as a corner for fellow TUF 1 contestant Diego Sanchez.

Just three days ago, Bonnar shared an Instagram post promoting a fight titled “Fights of Fury.” His sudden and untimely passing has left everyone shocked.

Tributes Flooding for UFC Legend Stephan Bonnar

Fans and friends are paying tribute to the UFC legend “American Psycho” Stephan Bonnar on social media. Everyone remembers him as a beast inside the octagon who never backed down and fought fearlessly.

The funeral arrangements of Stephan Bonnar are pending at this time along with the obituary. We will keep you posted when his family shares more details.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to them. May God let the departed soul rest easy.