It’s been 20 years since Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar went to war in The Ultimate Fighter finale.
Dana White and his business partners took over the UFC in 2001. Unfortunately for them, business wasn’t booming, and the promotion was on the verge of collapsing before they launched MMA’s first reality TV show in 2005.
Fans tuned into The Ultimate Fighter Season One in record numbers before Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar beat each other bloody during a 15-minute brawl to earn a contract with MMA’s premier promotion.
Ultimately, Griffin picked up a unanimous decision victory, and both men were signed by the UFC.
Dana White recalls the most important fight in UFC history
In July 2013, Griffin and Bonnar were inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame by White.
The UFC boss praised the light heavyweight duo for saving his company with their fight.
“As far as this sport goes, this was the most important fight in the history of this company,” White said.
“At the time when the fight happened, you know where we were and what was happening with the sport.
“We were $44 million into the hole with this business… Who was there that night? Was anyone actually in the arena? People were stomping their feet, and it sounded like a f—— train was going through that place.
“There has never been a more important fight in the history of the UFC.
“It is our honor to induct Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar into the UFC Hall of Fame.”
Dana White hopes to make the biggest fight ever in 2025
In 2025, the UFC is a mainstream sports league worth upwards of $10 billion.
White has launched new promotions in slap fighting and boxing, but he’s still focused on MMA.
The 55-year-old is currently trying to make the biggest fight in UFC history, which will see Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall unify the heavyweight division.
“It would be the biggest heavyweight fight in UFC history, by a long shot,” White said earlier this year.
“It’s going to be the biggest heavyweight fight ever. And it’ll probably be the biggest fight we’ve ever done.”
White has ‘100 percent’ guaranteed that Jones vs Aspinall will happen in 2025, and fans are impatiently waiting for an official announcement on the latest UFC superfight.