MMA World Mourns the Loss of UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar

• Stephan Bonner was a legend of the UFC and is credited with helping to jumpstart its popularity
• Bonner passed away at the age of 45, with heart complications put down as the official cause of death
• Bonner was known in the UFC as The American Psycho and won eight of his bouts in the organisation

While many are celebrating Christmas, the MMA world is mourning the loss of Stephan Bonnar.

45-year-old Bonnar was a retired mixed martial arts fighter and a UFC Hall of Famer.

The UFC announced that the Hall of Famer passed away on Thursday, but made the announcement on Christmas Eve, USA Today reported.

It was reported that he passed away from 'heart complications while at work.' A legend of the sport The American Psycho, as he was known, made history as being one of the finalists on the first season of the Ultimate Fighter in 2005.

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Boxing

He lost in the final to Forrest Griffin but the fight itself was an instant classic. It is often credited with really putting the UFC on the map. It was also inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame Fight Wing.

Dana White's tribute

UFC President Dana White paid special tribute to Bonnar in a recently released statement.

"Stephan Bonnar was one of the most important fighters to ever compete in the octagon. 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."

His UFC record

As noted by Tapology, Bonner competed 15 times in the UFC, winning eight fights and losing seven. He has a professional MMA record of 15 wins and 9 losses.

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UFC Bantamweight TJ Dillashaw retires from MMA after shoulder surgery

UFC fighter Tyler Jeffrey Dillashaw is officially retiring from the sport of MMA.

TJ, as he is more commonly known, is a former two-time UFC Bantamweight champion.

Dillashaw made the decision to retire after he was forced to undergo surgery to repair his damaged shoulder, Sports Brief reported.