UFC legend Stephan Bonnar was a fan favorite for his ferocity and determination in the cage. The tragic news of his passing at the young age of 45 was reported on December 22, 2022. The Clark County coroner’s office eventually revealed that the initial theory that cardiac problems were to blame for his death was incorrect.
The Original Proclamation
UFC president Dana White released a statement shortly after learning of Bonnar’s death: “The UFC is heartbroken to report the passing of Stephan Bonnar. At the age of 45, Bonnar passed away on December 22, 2022.
Preliminary autopsy results point to cardiac arrest on the job as the likely cause of death. This hasty judgment, perhaps due to Bonnar’s advanced age and previous cardiac problems, obscured the true sadness of his passing.
Stephan Bonnar’s Cause Of Death
Stephan Bonnar’s death was the result of a tragic drug overdose. After receiving a public records request from MMA Fighting, the Clark County (Nevada) coroner’s office declared Bonnar’s death an accident due to “Fentanyl, Parafluorofentanyl and Mitragynine intoxication” on December 22. Bonnar was a UFC Hall of Famer. He was 45.
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Due to patient confidentiality concerns, the coroner’s office has declined to release any additional information on Bonnar’s passing. A representative for the office stated that additional testing during an autopsy was the reason why it took longer than usual to find a cause and manner of death in Bonnar’s case.
The drug issue today revolves around fentanyl, a synthetic opioid. It has been linked to the deaths of thousands upon thousands of people in the United States owing to overdoses, many of which were accidental. Fentanyl and alprazolam (Xanax) poisoning caused Bellator fighter Jordan Young’s death.
Mitragynine is the primary ingredient of the legal drug Kratom, and parafluorofentanyl is a fentanyl counterpart. Bonnar’s death was initially announced by the UFC, who stated that while the official cause of death was still unknown, it was “presumed heart complications.”
Stephan Bonnar cause of death revealed as accidental overdose https://t.co/uHdpAiT6VQ
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) April 25, 2023
In an interview published in September 2021, Bonnar admitted lawfully using oxycodone at a dosage of 30 milligrams per day to manage chronic pain from a career in mixed martial arts and professional wrestling.
After a video he made of a disagreement at a hospital went viral, he lashed out at the suggestion that he had overused the medications. He then disclosed that he had survived a very dangerous staph infection by the skin of his teeth. After a positive drug test after his 2012 bout with Anderson Silva, Bonnar claimed he had been “blacklisted” from the UFC.
A memorial for the Ultimate Fighter 1 finalist and Hall of Famer was organized by the promotion after his passing. Bonnar’s fight with Forrest Griffin, who led the charge, is primarily regarded as the event that saved the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
