It is 20 years since Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar went to battle in the ultimate hunter's final.
Dana White and his business partners took over the UFC in 2001. Unfortunately for them, things were not booming and the promotion was about to collapse before they launched MMA's first reality TV show in 2005.
Fans voted for the Ultimate Fighter Season One in record numbers before Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar defeated each other bloody during a 15 -minute fight to earn a contract with the most important promotion of MMA.
In the end, Griffin took a unanimous decision victory and both men were signed by the UFC.
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Dana White recalls the most important fight in the UFC history
In July 2013, Griffin and Bonnar were included in 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,” said White.
“The moment the fight happened, you know where we were and what happened to the sport.
“We were $ 44 million in the hole with this company … Who was there that night? Was anyone actually in the Arena? People stuffed their feet and it sounded like – – train went through that place.
“There has never been a more important fight in the history of the UFC.
“It is our honor to set up Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar in 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 that is worth more than $ 10 billion.
White has launched new promotions in folding fights and boxing, but he is still aimed at MMA.
The 55-year-old is currently trying to make the largest fight in UFC history, so that Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall will unite the heavyweight division.
“It would be the biggest heavyweight fight in the UFC history, through a long shot,” White said earlier this year.
“It will be the biggest heavyweight fight ever. And it will probably be the biggest fight we've ever done.”
White has guaranteed '100 percent' that Jones vs Aspinall will take place in 2025, and fans are waiting impatiently for an official announcement on the last UFC -Supergebecht.
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