Stephan Bonnar Talks Hatred For Tito Ortiz, Wanderlei In UFC HOF, Batista In MMA & More

During a recent interview with the folks at “Submission Radio,” UFC Hall Of Famer and current Bellator Light Heavyweight fighter talked about a number of interesting topics, including the origins of his beef with Tito Ortiz, his thoughts on WWE Superstar Batista’s future in MMA and competing against UFC on November 15th.

Regarding his preparation for his Bellator 131 bout with Ortiz, “The American Psycho” revealed that he is working through a broken toe.

“I broke my toe a couple of weeks ago,” said Bonnar. “I haven’t missed a work out, you know. It just hurts. Tape it up and push through it and that’s how it’s always been. It’s really no problem.”

“I made it through the worst. Really, after you break the bone – whether it’s a little foot bone, a hand, or toe – those first few weeks after you break it, oh those are the worst. But after those two weeks it just keeps getting better, and what’s it’s been? About three, three and a half (weeks) probably. And just yesterday Stich was teaching the pros class at One Kick Nick’s gym, and we did a conditioning circuit where we had to do box pops and I was like “there’s no way I’m gonna be able to do this” and I was able to do it. So yeah, I made it from the worst and it’s only getting better from here.”

Will the injury affect his performance against Ortiz in November? “Big bones take about six to eight weeks to heal, like say the humorous or you know bigger bones, but little fingers or little foot bones, even hands (take) four to six weeks. And it’ll be four weeks I think on Thursday (16th of October). So yeah, I mean it’s already feeling good. So it’s not going to be a factor at all. I’ll be kicking full force with it comes to the fight.”

Bonnar also spoke about how selfish “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” can be at times.

“Wow, I think Tito’s selfishness goes to a whole different level. I think Diego [Sanchez] was just so focused on himself (in regards to the asparagus incident) and what not, it’s different. Put it this way, I’ve been out at the club with Diego and for 1, he doesn’t come up and charge me to help chip in on the bottle, and if he did I totally would chip in on it; but I would be pissed off, if I later found out that them bottles that he always gets from this particular club were always being comped, and he’s hitting his friends up for money and profiting off of them when he gets bottles comped in a club…. I’m sorry, that’s just Tito Ortiz, another story.”

As far as coming out of retirement, Bonnar admitted that it was never the plan and once he decided he wanted to do it, he went to get Dana White’s blessing first.

“No definitely no, and I said “let me check with Dana first” and he was all for it, like “man, hope you beat the shit out of him and make a lot of money” and it was like alright cool. He’s cool with it. Like it’s a fight with Tito, it’s against a big name, it’s on free TV, main event, plus it’s a guy I truly never cared for and have nothing but utter distain for and I could go and let the world know what I feel about him, what I think of him and then go in there and put on a show. Just make it a crazy fight, and that’s my game plan. Just go in there and throw caution to the wind and put on a barn burner and get the fans cheering. That’s really it. No pressure.”

Bonnar also elaborated on why he dislikes Ortiz so much. “We were always cordial with each other and then you know, like usually if you fight a guy, especially a couple of times, and you do PR interviews together, you kinda get along, like me and Forrest have become pretty good friends. And you hear it from Forrest that with Tito, like he tried to like him, it just wasn’t happening. And I know a lot of Tito’s old buddies, training partners, Team Punishment guys. Like the guys that spent time with him and trained him for his camps like Justin McCully and other guys I don’t want to mention, and even before the fight it’s like “hey what’s going on Tito, you retired? You gonna fight again?” And everyone says the same thing. They look at me kinda out of the corner of their eye with a sour look on their face like they just ate something sour and they’d say ‘man ‘F’ that dude.'”

Bonnar continued, “It’s like five, six different people, two of his old managers too, “man ‘F’ that dude”. What did he do to you, Let me hear this one. Oh he was supposed to pay you ‘X’ amount of dollars, you spent all that time with him and he stiffed you or shorted you? And the managers (say) “oh you know and then he tried not paying me and yada yada….” and it’s like a broken record and just kinda shows the guy’s character. I don’t know about you guys but let’s say we ask all of your old buddies from the last ten to twenty years what they think of you, and I don’t know, if they all say you’re an asshole, then it’s probably true.”

The former Ultimate Fighter season one cast member continued to share some stories about Ortiz, including one where Ortiz made some negative comments about him on the day he was being inducted into the UFC Hall Of Fame.

“I was getting inducted into the hall of fame with Forrest last year, and it was like not something that I campaigned and begged for. They were like “Hey guess what, we’re gonna put you and Forrest in the Hall of Fame”. Oh, alright. Cool”. So I go there, it’s at the expo and I’ve got my booth and talking to fans, and then everyone’s coming up ‘oh did you hear what Tito, Tito, Tito. Said you don’t deserve it, said you got no business being in there. So it’s like oh okay. Like you couldn’t wait till like, you know, a couple of days later to concern your disgust for their decision to put me in there. You gotta like make it vocal – on the day I’m getting put in there. It’s like ok. My day to collect a nice little plaque and get a round of applause. Whatever. Like, that’s an honour, I’ll take it. And then to have someone try to take a crap on that, kinda pissed me off.”

Bonnar continued, “I thought when he beat Guy Mezger and flipped off Ken Shamrock it was disrespectful. I thought when he beat Evan Tanner and Evan Tanner is laying there, looks like he’s hurt bad completely not moving, he’s (Tito) digging him a grave. Like that’s disrespectful. After he beat Kenny, and wears the shirt “I killed Kenny”. Very disrespectful. After he beat Vitor on a split decision that easily could have gone to Vitor, he just got it because of a takedown, and then he ran around parading around the arena like he was the greatest thing ever. Then he talked a bunch of crap to Chuck who had already knocked him out, and when Chucked got up and said “dude, like really? I’ll knock you out again”. Then he said “uh-oh, let me call out someone I know I can beat up”, then he called out Ken Shamrock again and started calling him Slamcock.”

Does Bonnar think Ortiz has boring fights? “He’s had good fights, but they were because of the other guy, because the other guy was able to stuff takedowns, or get up off the take downs and get up in his face and make it exciting. If it was up to him he’d just hold every guy down for dear life and throw the little elbows and then hold on and make sure he doesn’t stand up and win rounds, and to me that’s not fighting. He said he’s gonna fight me like a man and we’ll see if he’s a man of his word.”

How does Bonnar feel about competing against UFC on the night he challenges Ortiz at Bellator 131, a show that goes head-to-head with UFC 180 in Mexico City?

“Honestly, like at first it wasn’t gonna be like that. It wasn’t going to be on the same day. It wasn’t until the night where me and Tito got in the cage and I talked shit about Jenna and what not. That’s when I found out they were going to put it on the same night. And yeah, I’m not gonna lie. It was like “whoa” at first. Like “really? Against the UFC heavyweight fights?” and then I thought just of most of my friends and family and what cheap skates they are, and most of them would much rather watch something on free TV than have to pay $50 bucks.”

Bonnar was also asked if he feels “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva deserves a spot in the UFC Hall Of Fame despite all of the controversy surrounding him lately. “You know, are you kidding me?,” Bonnar started. “That guy was the pioneer. Before I even grew the nut sack to step in the cage myself I was watching Wanderlei going “holy crap this guy is amazing. Like, I love the way this guy fights”. If I could fight like anyone and just bring the utter violent chaos it’s Wanderlei Silva, So hell yeah.”

Finally, “The American Psycho” was asked his thoughts on WWE Superstar turned Hollywood actor Dave Bautista, who he helped train for his MMA debut a few years back. “I mean, Dave had one pro fight and he went through hell,” said Bonnar. “He went through a hell of a training camp for it, and like I’ll say this perfectly, yeah his wrestling and his grappling game is pretty good. Like he’s got a nice, fast double leg, heavy top game, good back control, and really he wrestled in high school, he wrestled all those years so of course that’s the area that ends up the strongest. The striking game, although not bad, is the one that just like anyone else, strengths and weaknesses, but may need a little more work.”

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