Forrest Griffin vs Stephan Bonnar — Fight recap

Forrest Griffin defeated Stephan Bonnar via unanimous decision after three rounds on April 9, 2005, with referee Herb Dean officiating. Griffin's striking volume proved decisive, landing 88 of 184 significant strikes (47%) compared to Bonnar's 57 of 150 (38%), while controlling the cage for 2:31 versus Bonnar's 20 seconds.

Griffin attempted two takedowns and landed one, establishing a grappling advantage that complemented his superior striking output. Bonnar fought primarily as a striker, never attempting a takedown and relying on counter-striking, but couldn't match Griffin's pace or consistency through the fifteen minutes.

Griffin's head strikes (62 of 149) dominated the exchanges, and his control time underscored his ability to dictate the fight's tempo. This decision win solidified Griffin's standing in the light heavyweight division and established him as a top contender moving forward.