UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar has signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator MMA and a bout with fellow Hall of Famer and former UFC light heavyweight champ Tito Ortiz is being discussed.
Bellator officials announced the news on Wednesday.
Bonnar commented:
“I want everyone to know I’m coming out of retirement because it’s time to free the MMA world of the virus that’s known as Tito Ortiz. We’ve been suffering through his boring fights for too many years, and it’s about time that someone beats it out of him once and for all.”
Bonnar (15-8) made history with his epic battle with Forrest Griffin on The Ultimate Fighter season 1 Finale in 2005. Although he lost the decision, he was still awarded a UFC contract, and the bout is often referred to as the most important fight in UFC history and is seen as the turning point for the growth of the company.
According to MMA insider @FrontRowBrian who Tweeted about a Bonnar-Ortiz match-up in Bellator a week ago, UFC President Dana White has given his “blessing” to the fighter he once said would always have a home with the UFC:
Hearing @StephanBonnar vs @titoortiz is going to happen in @BellatorMMA … Dana gave Bonnar his “blessing”
— FrontRowBrian (@FrontRowBrian) August 21, 2014
Bonnar had “retired” from MMA — or he got retired from MMA — by White following his TKO loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 153 in Oct. 2012 in Brazil. Bonnar took the fight as a replacement for Silva’s original opponent, and he ended up testing positive for steroids for the second time in his UFC career (first time was at UFC 62). White saw this as an affront, he felt Bonnar should have told him he couldn’t pass the drug screen, and they did not speak for some time afterward.
Couple all this with now Bonnar going to Bellator and you can see why this move is a little odd. Remember, Bonnar was one-half of the fight Dana White himself sees as the most significant changing point in the history of the UFC. Obviously, this move to Bellator never would have happened if Bjorn Rebney were still at the helm.
Bellator President Scott Coker commented:
“Stephan is a guy that has been a huge part of this sport and we are excited have him part of the roster. He was one half of probably the greatest and one of the most important fights in MMA history, and it happened on Spike. When you look at our light heavyweight division, with names like Rampage, Tito, King Mo, Emanuel Newton and others, there are a lot of fights Stephan can be involved in. Big fights against big names. After talking to Stephan, I know that’s what he wants, and we want to provide that to our fans.”
Stay close to www.ProMMAnow.com for news on Bonnar’s Bellator debut date.
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