Bellator FC is set to kick off the next season on SPIKETV, marking their first season under the leadership of exec Scott Coker. What direction Coker will take the company has been a topic of a lot of speculation and conversation, and with today’s announcement that retired UFC fighter Stephan Bonnar would be returning to sign with Bellator to face Tito Ortiz, we see Coker continuing to put his mark on the company.
The signing of Bonnar comes on the heels of the company releasing 12 fighters whom were under contract, including former Bellator Light Heavyweight title holder Attila Vegh.
The release of Vegh makes the bringing in of Bonnar curious. The truth is that Vegh was a flat line when it comes fans and recognition, but he was on Bellator’s top shelf in terms of talent as a former champion and he had an impressive 5-1 record in Bellator, and at 29 years old he gives them more possibilities than Bonnar does.
Bonnar is 37, and if you re-call his last appearance, it was a wholly forgettable appearance. Bonnar faced the legendary Anderson Silva in Brazil, coming out of a long layoff to do so. The hype before the fight was about Bonnar being an easy fight for Silva, and Bonnar spent at least a portion of his preparation time doing steroids so that he could spend the press conferences and weigh ins making muscles and posing down. The normally slim fighter with an average build was gone, replaced by a guy who would make muscle at every camera.
Was it a surprise the tests came back positive? Bonnar served a suspension, though he was retired so it doesnt matter. Now he is getting a return gig with Bellator, picking up where he left off, what exactly does Coker see him bringing to the table?
Bonnar and Ortiz is nothing but a nostalgia match between two guys in their late thirties. It shouldnt even be happening. here is a prediction, when Bonnar returns, we will get the heavily muscled, might be ‘roidin’ again version of Stephan Bonnar. He is not coming back to compete and to elevate the fight game, he is coming back to grab his last few checks and get his pro wrestling dreams off his bucket list.
