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[Sakara=Excitement]

UFC's Bonnar eyeing June/July return, hoping for Franklin, Griffin, Bader or Ortiz | MMAjunkie.com

by Dann Stupp on Mar 09, 2011 at 2:30 pm ET
In the time since Stephan Bonnar scored a decision victory over Igor Pokrajac, the defeated Croatian has already fought and picked up a victory.

Bonnar, meanwhile, hasn't even been booked for a fight.

But "The American Psycho," a fan favorite and six-year UFC vet, today told MMAjunkie.com Radio (MMAjunkie.com Radio | MMAjunkie.com) he expects to return in June and July, and he's got some big names on his wish list.

"You always like a big name," said Bonnar, who's kept busy with broadcasting gigs, business ventures and some injury-recovery time since his most recent fight. "I was hinting toward someone like (Rich) Franklin or (Forrest) Griffin again ... or maybe (Ryan) Bader or even Tito Ortiz."

Admittedly, though, nothing is official.

"Your guess is as good as mine," he said of his next fight.

With Griffin's recent win over Franklin – and with Bonnar's back-to-back victories – there's been some buzz for a third meeting between the two fighters. The first fight, of course, is the stuff of legend. In the live finale of "The Ultimate Fighter 1" – and in a fight UFC president Dana White calls the most important in MMA history – Griffin narrowly edged Bonnar in an epic slugfest that propelled MMA and the UFC into the mainstream. The rematch took place a year later, and Griffin reigned supreme in a bit more dominant fashion.

Bonnar wants a third meeting with Griffin. But he feels the same way about any big-name fight.

"It's a big draw," Bonnar said of his fights with Griffin. "I want to fight someone that fans want to watch. I want to be on the big stage. ... As a fighter, that's what you want."

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[sonofsteven]

I'd watch any of them but for me , Franklin/Bonnar holds the most interest. I've always considered Rich to be a higher caliber fighter than Stephan and with Rich coming off a loss to a guy Stepahn has a lot of history with the timing ain't bad.

[NLRepublic]

I like Franklin for Bonnar the most

I'd like to see Bader/Ortiz

[GL Jeff]

Bader, Tito and Bonnar are all talking about fighting each other, but I think Griffin is well above them at the moment. Griffin should fight Lyoto/Randy, or Rashad, while Franklin vs. Bonnar would be stellar, and Bader can fight Igor.

[CHAEL fan]

Bonnar-Franklin sounds good to me.

Is it me, or does Bonnar's face in the above pic look like Nurse Jackie?

[Sakara=Excitement]

Originally Posted by CHAEL fan

Is it me, or does Bonnar's face in the above pic look like Nurse Jackie?

You haven't visited Matt Lindland's property lately have you?

[Extremefudgemaster]

Originally Posted by GL Jeff

Bader, Tito and Bonnar are all talking about fighting each other, but I think Griffin is well above them at the moment. Griffin should fight Lyoto/Randy, or Rashad, while Franklin vs. Bonnar would be stellar, and Bader can fight Igor.

I think Griffin should fight the winner of Rampage and Hammil.

[GL Jeff]

Originally Posted by Extremefudgemaster

I think Griffin should fight the winner of Rampage and Hammil.

That would be fine too, I just wanted to avoid the rematch in lue if a fresh fight. I dont think anythings changed between Rampage and Forest since their first fight, Forest is a slow starter,and Rampage cant check leg kicks.

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

Originally Posted by CHAEL fan

Bonnar-Franklin sounds good to me.

Is it me, or does Bonnar's face in the above pic look like Nurse Jackie?

Nah, but he looks like Carmela Soprano.

[Xanatos]

Bonnar vs Griffin 3 seems illogical at this point. But I would be more than happy with him fighting Franklin. Seems like the kind of fights that they're both made for, and it kind of makes sense, with Franklin coming off a loss and Bonnar coming off two wins. I'd watch him fight Tito too, just cause that's interesting to me. I think Bader is what they will end up giving him, which could end badly for Bonnar in many ways, but we'll see. I always enjoy watching Bonnar fight, he's definitely a fan oriented fighter, always puts on a show, that's why Dana likes him so much.

But we will see.