Stephan Bonnar Talks Injuries and Marriage

Stephan Bonnar has seen his fair share of injuries. In early 2008, he suffered a severe knee injury in training for a bout with Matt Hamill at UFC Fight Night 13. He spent the better part of the year on the sidelines.

In earlier days, Bonnar said, there weren't as many fighters under contract with the UFC. If it wasn't a serious injury, the pressure was greater to stay in the fight.

"You wanted to show them if you are banged up that you can suck it up and not let them down," he told MMA Insider. "If you want them to appreciate you as a fighter, win or lose, make them proud and step up."

That's changed recently, as Bonnar first told ESPN's MMA Live. With more fighters under contract, and greater stakes for division champions, the promotion has grown more understanding of injury and illness delays.

Take the recent illness of Brock Lesnar as a sign things are changing, as well as the recent elbow troubles of Anderson Silva, said Bonnar.

"We're fighters, we're supposed to be tough, and all of us have sucked it up and fought through injuries," he said. "It's nice to know that they're more forgiving about that."

Bonnar returned last Tuesday from Mensano, Italy, where he married his longtime girlfriend. He spent two weeks in the Tuscan village unwinding.

"No injuries on the honeymoon," he quipped.

Now, it's back to training, where he is expected to take on Krzysztof Soszynski at UFC 110 in February. He's anxious to get back into the cage.

Meanwhile, Bonnar has ramped up his involvement in NGAUGE, which produces high-end lithograph prints of famous UFC fights and fighters.

"I thought about what I'm going to do in the MMA business, and I thought, what, am I just going to do another t-shirt line?" said Bonnar. "Everyone and their mother is doing one of those."

Bonnar said the art's potential was readily apparent with the first lithograph, which memorialized his battle with Forrest Griffin. The print gained UFC president Dana White's approval, and the pieces are now available on the UFC's website under collectibles.

A jewelry line and t-shirts featuring the art are planned for the future.

"It's just about a great product and an open market, " said Bonnar.