UFC Hall of Famer Stephan Bonnar has signed a multi-fight deal with Bellator MMA, according to promotion officials. The news is a bit of a surprise as Bonnar has been retired since a 2012 first-round TKO loss to Anderson Silva.
Bonnar's debut fight hasn't been announced yet, though a fight with former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz has been discussed.
"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," Bonnar said in a statement provided by Bellator. "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 and Ortiz have had some words in the past. Ortiz questioned whether Bonnar deserved to be in the UFC Hall of Fame. Bonnar took exception to that and made some disparaging remarks about Oritz's personal life.
Following his fight with Silva, Bonnar tested positive for an anabolic steroid and was suspended for one year by the UFC. It was the second failed drug test of his career.
Bonnar, 37, was a part of the UFC's historic first season of "The Ultimate Fighter" in 2005. His fight with Forrest Griffin in the season finale later that year is widely believed to be the most important fight in the history of the sport of mixed martial arts.
UFC Announces Mexico City Main Card
The UFC announced the full main card for UFC 180 Tuesday in what will be the promotion's debut in Mexico. The main event will see heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez defend his title against top contender Fabricio Werdum.
Every fight on the main card features a fighter with Hispanic heritage. Kelvin Gastelum will face Jake Ellenberger at welterweight; Diego Sanchez will meet Norman Parke in a lightweight bout; Ricardo Lamas faces Dennis Bermudez in a clash of top-10 featherweights, and bantamweights Erik Perez and Marcus Brimage will square off as they are both desperately in need of a win.
Woodley Calls Out Brown, Brown Wants Condit
Welterweight Tyron Woodley called out Matt Brown on Tuesday, but Brown doesn't seem interested and has his eyes set on a former number-one contender.
Brown is currently rehabbing his right hand after suffering an injury in his decision loss to Robbie Lawler in July. He said his preference is to face off with former WEC champion and UFC interim welterweight champion Carlos Condit.
Brown and Condit were scheduled to face each other last December, but Brown had to pull out of the fight after herniating two discs in his back the week of the fight. Condit is currently recovering from a torn ACL and torn meniscus he suffered in a TKO loss to Woodley.
"Me and Condit were supposed to fight once before and I think that's the fight everyone wants to see," Brown told FOX Sports. "I think our styles, the way they match up, is probably the most interesting fight out there. I'm open to whatever."
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