UFC hall-of-famer Stephan Bonnar signs with Bellator, immediately calls out Tito Ortiz

You wouldn't think that this is a real MMA story in 2014, but it is indeed true. As of today, Stephan Bonnar is out of retirement, back in the fight game, but with Bellator. "The American Psycho", who has not fought since a short-notice TKO loss to Anderson Silva in October 2012, was announced as the promotion's newest signing. In the official press release, Bonnar (15-8) called out Tito Ortiz for his debut fight:

"I want everyone to know I'm coming out of retirement because it's time to free the MMA world of the virus that's known as Tito Ortiz," Bonnar said. "We've been suffering through his boring fights for too many years, and it's about time that someone beats it out of him once and for all."

Tito later responded by calling Bonnar a "Bitch Boy" on Twitter:

Really? @StephanBonnar Really? I'm going to beat the juice out of you! #BitchBoy pic.twitter.com/gAb7noWpMH

— Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) August 27, 2014

Bonnar retired from competition after losing to Silva and failing his drug test, marking the 2nd time in his UFC career that he'd been caught using banned substances. He joined the Titan FC commentary team and was even heard on the promotion's most recent event last Friday.

Interestingly enough, in this April interview with Bloody Elbow's Steph Daniels, Bonnar stated that he would never fight for another promotion, having been with the UFC since his days on TUF 1 back in 2005:

"I wouldn't fight for another promotion. It's about loyalty. More than anything, I take pride in being a part of the UFC and I wouldn't want to screw that up. Even my commentary job with Titan, when I got the offer, I said, 'I'm probably not going to be able to take the job because I'm loyal to the UFC, but let me run it by Dana and see what he says.'

I told Dana about the offer and he was like, ‘Titan, yeah, I'm totally cool with it.' He gave the official OK and I took the job. We've always gotten along well and are good friends. I'm not going to do anything that would jeopardize my relationship with the UFC or Dana."

Obviously things have changed since then, although if Dana White was fine with letting Bonnar work with Titan FC, then surely he'd have a similar reaction to joining the Scott Coker-era of Bellator.

Bonnar is expected to make his debut towards the end of the year. He will also have various other roles in Bellator, including occasional work as an analyst.