The first-ever UFC Heavyweight Champion and PRIDE FC Grand Prix Champion, Mark Coleman (15-8), is rumored to be up for induction into the Hall of Fame at UFC 82: “Pride of a Champion” on March 1 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
That’s the latest from “Knockout Radio” via MMA.tv.
Coleman is a former NCAA collegiate wrestling champion from Ohio State University and 1992 U.S. Olympian. He transitioned from wrestling to mixed martial arts (MMA) with his Octagon debut at UFC 10: “The Tournament” in 1996. He went on to defeat Moti Horenstein, Gary Goodridge and Don Frye in the same night.
In fact, all three fights ended early. And it was largely because of his takedowns and relentless punishment from the top position. He is widely believed to be the inventor of the oh-so-popular “ground and pound.”
“The Hammer” is now a popular professional wrestler in Japan and is still hanging on to a potential return to MMA action.
Despite all of his success, Coleman has also endured his share comedic and fighting misfortune.
His brutal knockout loss to Pete Williams at UFC 17 is a classic, making the destructions of Sean Salmon, Mirko Cro Cop and Jordan Radev last year look like child’s play. And who can forget his celebration after winning the PRIDE FC 2000 Grand Prix, which saw him bust his ass attempting to leap on the top rope.
The post-fight drama — ripped right from a bad Hollywood script — after losing to Fedor Emelianenko via armbar at PRIDE 32 is also a classic.
Regardless, Coleman is a pioneer in the sport. It’d be fitting to see him honored alongside trailblazers such as Randy Couture, Dan Severn, Ken Shamrock and Royce Gracie.
Especially since it would be in front of his hometown crowd in the “Buckeye State.”
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he deserves it,he was the pioneer of the ground and pound.
could this be a set up to a potential return to the octagon?
i hope not.
Great for Coleman…But hall of fame???? didnt he use STEROIDS at one time in his career!!..im pretty sur i herd talk from other fighters saying he took them often…
I would not mind this being a setup for one more fight in the cage…I think he deserves that…
I’m a fan of Coleman’s, and am glad that he will receive this honor. If the UFC wants another heavyweight, I wouldn’t object to “The Hammer”’s signing. After a squash match against a gimme opponent, he could be fed to Brock , or Shane Carwin as a stepping stone towards a title shot. While past his prime, MC could still test many a fighter. Plus, he loves the sport, and he is a stand up guy.
Bout time they inducted more deserving fighter cause coleman is definitely one of them
Coleman vs. Lesnar should be good
Macrcus Davis set to fight at UFC 86 June 14, in London!
Davis said his next fight will be on June 14, at an as-of-yet-unannounced card to take place at the O2 Arena in London, England. And while a specific opponent has not yet been named for the UFC 86 fight, Davis said he has been told by UFC officials that it will be “a top-10, probably top-five” guy.
[quote comment=”276776″]Macrcus Davis set to fight at UFC 86 June 14, in London!
Davis said his next fight will be on June 14, at an as-of-yet-unannounced card to take place at the O2 Arena in London, England. And while a specific opponent has not yet been named for the UFC 86 fight, Davis said he has been told by UFC officials that it will be “a top-10, probably top-five” guy.[/quote]
Let him Knock out Matt Hughes!
[quote comment=”276759″]Great for Coleman…But hall of fame???? didnt he use STEROIDS at one time in his career!!..im pretty sur i herd talk from other fighters saying he took them often…[/quote]
Why not? He’s hardly the only one to have used ‘roids back in those days and he was an early force in the UFC and MMA. He is deserving.
Congrats HAMMER you deserve this.
[quote comment=”276778″][quote comment=”276776″]Macrcus Davis set to fight at UFC 86 June 14, in London!
Davis said his next fight will be on June 14, at an as-of-yet-unannounced card to take place at the O2 Arena in London, England. And while a specific opponent has not yet been named for the UFC 86 fight, Davis said he has been told by UFC officials that it will be “a top-10, probably top-five” guy.[/quote]
Let him Knock out Matt Hughes![/quote]
Hughes/Davis? Now that’s a real test for Davis finally. I’m not sure he could pull this one out though. It’s really hard to gauge how good Davis really is since he hasn’t fought the greatest level of competition. There’s only one way to find out I guess.
I’m pretty sure this guy was juiced up most of his career, would be interesting to see him fighting in the ufc today, everything about his appearance screams “juice”.
Hughes’ next opponent will definitely be Serra if he loses to GSP. So, I think they’ll wait until that fight is over to decide who Hughes will fight. (if he does at all)
I’m thinking his next fight will be against Koscheck or Diego. Which ever guy wins at 82 and is ready for a fight at 86.
[quote comment=”276813″]Hughes’ next opponent will definitely be Serra if he loses to GSP. So, I think they’ll wait until that fight is over to decide who Hughes will fight. (if he does at all)
I’m thinking his next fight will be against Koscheck or Diego. Which ever guy wins at 82 and is ready for a fight at 86.[/quote]
Oh, and congrats to Coleman.
[quote comment=”276800″][quote comment=”276778″][quote comment=”276776″]Macrcus Davis set to fight at UFC 86 June 14, in London!
Davis said his next fight will be on June 14, at an as-of-yet-unannounced card to take place at the O2 Arena in London, England. And while a specific opponent has not yet been named for the UFC 86 fight, Davis said he has been told by UFC officials that it will be “a top-10, probably top-five” guy.[/quote]
Let him Knock out Matt Hughes![/quote]
Hughes/Davis? Now that’s a real test for Davis finally. I’m not sure he could pull this one out though. It’s really hard to gauge how good Davis really is since he hasn’t fought the greatest level of competition. There’s only one way to find out I guess.[/quote]
Hughes/Davis is just my idea….its not gonna happen, but I would love to see it go down, or maybe Marcus/Diego
I wouldn’t mind seeing Marcus vs. Serra after Serra looses his title to GSP
There are a lot of possibly entertaining match ups between Davis and top 5 or top 10 welterweight contenders. I cant wait to hear who Joe Silva matches him up against!
He went on to defeat Moti Horenstein, Gary Goodridge and Don Frye in the same night.
Just let that sink in for a minute. Wow. Except for Moti those where some tough guys to beat in one night.
I glad to see that Coleman is getting the respect he deserves. And it’s good to know that he’s making money in Japan as well.
Coleman was good, reallly good. To bad he had to get old.
He’s the father of ground and pound. This guy was a stud. If only his fight club, Team Hammerhouse, would’ve learned some BJJ, him and Randleman would’ve been a real force.
[quote comment=”276847″]He went on to defeat Moti Horenstein, Gary Goodridge and Don Frye in the same night.
Just let that sink in for a minute. Wow. Except for Moti those where some tough guys to beat in one night.
I glad to see that Coleman is getting the respect he deserves. And it’s good to know that he’s making money in Japan as well.[/quote]
…more than he can make in the US, aint that some shit?! …i thought ya’ll had that american dream thing goin’ on? what happened there then? lol
im gonna watch this fight on ppv so it will be good to watch.
Love him, hate him, or just don’t care, the Hammer belongs…
There is no match. lol
UFC 82 has a phenominal card, and now I get to see Mark Coleman get accepted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
Sweet.
[quote comment=”277113″]UFC 82 has a phenominal card, and now I get to see Mark Coleman get accepted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
Sweet.[/quote]
They seriously need to bring a UFC event to Hawaii. It just isn’t fair that people from the states get to see great fights all the time. Elite XC and ICON Sport just doesn’t cut it.
BTW: I hope they show the undercard fight between Matt Wiman and Justin Bucholz on UFC Fight Night this week. I’ve seen Bucholz fight in person a couple times and he is on crazy dude. He sure is going to have his hands full with Wiman, but I hope he pulls of the upset.
[quote comment=”277126″][quote comment=”277113″]UFC 82 has a phenominal card, and now I get to see Mark Coleman get accepted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
Sweet.[/quote]
They seriously need to bring a UFC event to Hawaii. It just isn’t fair that people from the states get to see great fights all the time. Elite XC and ICON Sport just doesn’t cut it.
BTW: I hope they show the undercard fight between Matt Wiman and Justin Bucholz on UFC Fight Night this week. I’ve seen Bucholz fight in person a couple times and he is on crazy dude. He sure is going to have his hands full with Wiman, but I hope he pulls of the upset.[/quote]
UFC is coming to Hawaii next year. I know its a long time, but hey at least they are coming right?
Mark Coleman the pioneer of ground and pound? I thought it was Dan Severn. Can anyone please explain the differences in their styles?
[quote comment=”277287″][quote comment=”277126″][quote comment=”277113″]UFC 82 has a phenominal card, and now I get to see Mark Coleman get accepted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
Sweet.[/quote]
They seriously need to bring a UFC event to Hawaii. It just isn’t fair that people from the states get to see great fights all the time. Elite XC and ICON Sport just doesn’t cut it.
BTW: I hope they show the undercard fight between Matt Wiman and Justin Bucholz on UFC Fight Night this week. I’ve seen Bucholz fight in person a couple times and he is on crazy dude. He sure is going to have his hands full with Wiman, but I hope he pulls of the upset.[/quote]
UFC is coming to Hawaii next year. I know its a long time, but hey at least they are coming right?[/quote]
They better come. If Rich Franklin and GSP get to fight in front of their home crowd, BJ Penn BETTER be fighting here too.
i think this is great news!
[quote comment=”277448″]Mark Coleman the pioneer of ground and pound? I thought it was Dan Severn. Can anyone please explain the differences in their styles?[/quote]
Dan Severn was more of a lay and pray, not true GnP like Coleman did, like we know today.
[quote comment=”276963″]Love him, hate him, or just don’t care, the Hammer belongs…[/quote]
DID YOu see the Documentary About Marck Kerr “The Smashing MAchine”?????
MARK c. knew Kerr was using steroids shooting needles and never said he was aginst it on the docu, now thats at least 2 hall of famers are hall of shamers with steroid abuse MArk Coleman and Royce Gracie……
[quote comment=”277835″][quote comment=”276963″]Love him, hate him, or just don’t care, the Hammer belongs…[/quote]
DID YOu see the Documentary About Marck Kerr “The Smashing MAchine”?????
MARK c. knew Kerr was using steroids shooting needles and never said he was aginst it on the docu, now thats at least 2 hall of famers are hall of shamers with steroid abuse MArk Coleman and Royce Gracie……[/quote]
There was no testing back then so it wasn’t an issue. Randlemann was a user too, he admits his body is damaged from steroid abuse. Vitor Belfort as well. I’m sure there were many others. Now that its tested for you have to crack down on it, but the early days of the UFC were such a free for all compared to today.
[quote comment=”277448″]Mark Coleman the pioneer of ground and pound? I thought it was Dan Severn. Can anyone please explain the differences in their styles?[/quote]
severn was a wrestler, he did not throw many punches.
[quote comment=”276759″]Great for Coleman…But hall of fame???? didnt he use STEROIDS at one time in his career!!..im pretty sur i herd talk from other fighters saying he took them often…[/quote]
Come on… Coleman, Randleman and Phil Baroni….
I don’t believe all they have is sandwhiches in their lunch boxes, they’re all juice robots
The UFC is crazy to put Mark Coleman against Brock Lesnar.
Brock is a bigger, younger, stronger, and more juiced up version of Coleman. Brock via Early Fatality.