Stephan Bonnar hints at retirement after failing to secure 'marquee fight'

Go big, or go home.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight Stephan Bonnar, who was (unsuccessfully) campaigning to get himself back in front of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) cameras opposite longtime rival and original castmate Forrest Griffin, is running out of options.

TUF 16? Sorry, those spots belong to heavyweight rivals Shane Carwin and Roy Nelson. TUF Smashes? Lightweights George Sotiropoulos and Ross Pearson have first dibs.

According to "The American Psycho," that might be the good Lord's way of telling him to call it a career. After all, if God can get Moses to part the Red Sea, but can't get Bonnar to land a big-name fight, then it may be time to say goodbye to the Octagon.

Bonnar elaborates (via FUEL TV) after the jump.

"I have been doing this for 11 years and I have been through the ringer. I thought my last fight would be someone with a lot of twitter followers. If I can’t get that big, marquee fight, then it’s God’s way of telling me to do something else for a while. I thought I could campaign hard for me and Forrest to be coaches [of TUF]. I think it would be entertaining. If I could still fight Forrest of if Rampage wants to fight again, I’d be interested. I have no interest in fighting the next big thing, before the world notices the talent the guy has. I have done that too much in my career. If it’s not meant to be for us to be coaches, I’ve got to accept that and move on. I am fine with that."

Bonnar and Griffin are partly responsible for kicking the TUF series into overdrive following their epic three-round war on Spike TV to conclude the very first season. Griffin was able to secure the close victory and again outworked Bonnar in their rematch just over a year later.

To his credit, Bonnar has won three consecutive fights, and is definitely deserving of a prominent spot on an upcoming fight card, he just doesn't want to be anyone's stepping stone.

See Jones, Jon.

Well fight fans, what say you? Anyone think Bonnar has one more big fight left in his career? Or do you remain indifferent on his fighting future?

Opinions, please.