411 MMA Interviews: Stephan Bonnar

Posted by Jeffrey Harris on 11.28.2011

Following his dominant win over Kyle Kingsbury at UFC 139, 411mania.com sits down with Stephen Bonnar for an exclusive interview! See what he has to say about his UFC 139 win, his apology over the lawsuit with Josh Koscheck and more!

At UFC 139, light heavyweight fighter, Stephan Bonnar (17-7, MMA; 8-6, UFC) pulled off an impressive and dominant win over Kyle Kingsbury (11-3, 1NC, MMA; 4-2, UFC). Going into the fight, Kingsbury had been on an impressive four fight winning streak which Bonnar shut down. With the win, Bonnar won his third straight fight in the UFC, a feat he hadn't accomplished since 2006. At the HP Pavilion following the fight and post-fight press conference, 411mania.com got the chance to speak with the "American Psycho" for an exclusive interview:



Jeffrey Harris: You just won three in a row in the UFC for the first time in several years. How does it feel to get that milestone again??

Stephan Bonnar: It feels great. I mean numbers are numbers and three losses in a row, three wins – I look at the fight before [where] I lost to Krzysztof [Soszynski] with the headbutt, you know I felt great in that fight. Yeah I felt great, you know I'm not going to look back at and count that as a loss in the head. I'll never be able to accept that. But I feel like I'm game now, last couple years and I haven't fought in a while . . . [almost a year], yeah funny how that happens. I fought three times last year. I went to take two months off, get my business going, fight in June; that was the plan. The last fight was in December and then the summer cards just filled up early so the earliest they could get me out was August. Trained six weeks, tore a ligament in my knee, had to sit on my ass for three months and here I am.

Jeffrey Harris: What did you think of Kyle Kingsbury as an opponent? I thought you both were looking really good in the first round and were striking and then you took it over in your realm.

Stephan Bonnar: Yeah, I know. I felt good the whole fight. It felt like in the standup we were banging it out, and I felt I was getting the better of him. It showed on his face. But then yeah, I got it to the ground and felt really strong, felt like I had good control, and felt I could submit him. But he was defending well, I gave him good credit. I didn't feel like taking too many chances giving up the position because I felt so dominant in there. I was going to say, "OK. The fans are booing, fine. It's up to him to escape and get back to his feet and make something happen.

Jeffrey Harris: Were you surprised by his submission defense at all?

Stephan Bonnar: Yeah, yeah. He was really strong. I thought I had the north/south choke, but he was really strong turning into me and he was able to escape it a couple times.

Jeffrey Harris: Your message to Josh Koscheck after the fight. You decided against to challenge him and instead apologized. What was that about?

Stephan Bonnar: Well you know my company, Punch Buddies, we did those Trash Talking Kids – we changed it to Punch Buddies. We do the cartoon versions of fighters, and he didn't like it – he kind of gave birth to the idea and I was just excited because I thought up something that was funny and new and different. And we made a couple shirts depicting Josh Kosh-My Gosh and he wasn't too happy with it and tried to talk with his management and work something out. And it never worked out. And we gave them out to some of his coaches and teammates thought to be funny and it really hurt his feelings; slapped me with a lawsuit. But it taught me a lesson. Like if we want in this business to succeed, we need fighters' approval and want them to like the designs and then from there on make sure they get paid on every shirt that's sold. And that's the right way to do things. And he asked me to not to make this shirt. I did anyway, so I'm a jerk for that and I apologize.

Jeffrey Harris: Are you extending the olive branch now and this begins the healing process between you and Koscheck?

Stephan Bonnar: I mean if he doesn't accept my apology, then that's fine. That's all I can do. I just want to do the right thing, and that's the right thing.

Jeffrey Harris: If he doesn't would you still like to fight him?

Stephan Bonnar: Uh yeah, but the only thing is I'm a 205-er. He said he'd fight me if I can make 185. If I did make 185, I'd either die or be so weak he'd beat my ass, might not be worth it.

Jeffrey Harris: When would you like to fight again considering all things go well?

Stephan Bonnar: Um let's see; just want to enjoy the holidays. Maybe February.

Jeffrey Harris: Any names in mind you want to fight out there?

Stephan Bonnar: Yeah someone like really cool and really popular that everyone loves -- Rampage.

Jeffrey Harris: Would you want to fight him in Japan in February? He wants to fight on the UFC Japan card in February next year.

Stephan Bonnar: I'd rather not. Yeah, I've never fought there. I had a bad experience fighting overseas before. I dunno, but if they offered me, of course I would.

Jeffrey Harris: What about Shogun?

Stephan Bonnar: Shogun? Yeah of course.

Jeffrey Harris: I think it's great that you are building businesses outside of fighting because it's another great way to market yourself and define yourself without fighting as well.

Stephan Bonnar: I mean it's kind of for my own mental health, you know. When you are just fighting dudes in a gym all the time – it's just so physical. You don't get to use that other side of your brain. So when you think of an idea, something funny and creative, and bring it to life it really brings me a lot of joy.

Jeffrey Harris: Anyone you'd like to thank or give a shout out to?

Stephan Bonnar: Yeah: West Coast Authentics, thank you; Tapout man, been with me since the beginning; my first sponsor. Charles "Mask" Lewis, the founder of Tapout, God bless you. You mean a lot to me dude. He told me he believed in me and he wanted to sponsor me, win or lose, before that first fight with Forrest [Griffin] and that really meant the world to me. And Punch Buddies; look out for those shirts. They're coming. And thanks to Praetorian, who sponsored me for this fight.

Jeffrey Harris: Stephan thanks so much for your time and congrats on the win.

Stephan Bonnar: Thank you.

Thank you to Stephan Bonnar for taking the time to speak with us.