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We presented a new question to MMATorch readers on Monday, asking whether or not they felt it was right for the UFC to induct Stephan Bonnar into the UFC Hall of Fame alongside Forrest Griffin given the steroid test failures of Bonnar and the fact that Griffin actually captured the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Here's our first batch of responses.
MMATorch Forum user Bobbysuperfly: I'm fine with them being inducted together. It would be one thing if Forrest had an amazing career on the level of Anderson Silva or GSP. If that were the case then yes, it wouldn't be fair for him to have to share the spotlight with Bonnar.
Griffin had a good career, including winning the Light Heavyweight Title, but I don't think it was so good that it's an injustice to induct him and Bonnar together. When Forrest Griffin is looked back on 20+ years from now, his unspectacular title reign won't be the number one thing that people remember: it will be the amazing TUF finale bout with Bonnar and the boom period that it created.
Kenny D. (via Facebook): I think Forrest should definitely be in the Hall of Fame. Bonnar is a hard choice. He has been busted for PED's, and while he has had great fights he never really stood out besides his fight with Forrest. I believe Forrest would have been inducted even if he never had that fight with Bonnar. But I do not think Bonnar would even be considered had it not been for that fight.
Casey C. (via email): Not immediately. This is the UFC's chance to show that PED use will not be tolerated. Bonnar has put on some excellent fights and deserves to be there. There would be no Ulitmate Fighter Finale without Bonnar. His mini resurgence towards the end of his career had us all rooting for him.
In terms of regular human years he's still young. The UFC should start nominating fighters and voting on them for the HOF. Then keep nominating him and hire him to speak once a year at the fighter's summit about the effect of PED's on one's legacy.
Jordan B. (via Facebook): Yes to Forrest. No to Bonnar. The fight puts UFC on the map and makes both of them instant stars. However, Forrest accomplished so much more than Bonnar, and to put them in together kind of undermines the achievements of Griffin.
Wes P. (via email): Stephan Bonnar does not deserve to be in the UFC Hall of Fame. I liked him and enjoyed watching him fight, but he wasn't HOF material. Yes, he was one-half of the fight that many consider the most historic fight in UFC history but, to me, that shouldn't give him an automatic spot in the HOF. The fact that he was busted not once, but twice, for using steroids seals it for me. I think it sends a bad message. Look at other sports. Baseball hasn't put the greatest hitter of all time in the HOF because of suspected steroid use, and Barry Bonds never even tested positive! We just all know he was using. Maybe there needs to be a committee or a panel that votes in fighters in the UFC Hall of Fame. Matt Serra just retired too, and, in my opinion, had the biggest upset in the history of the UFC and won the welterweight belt, and he's not even in the discussion of being inducted! Also, Bonnar's record isn't even close to warranting a spot in the HOF. This proves to me that he is being inducted only becuase of his first fight with Griffin and that's just not enough for me.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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