The Career Of Mark Coleman
When you look through the list of UFC heavyweight champions, you may wonder who the inaugural champion was and I’ll tell you right now, it was Mark Coleman. Coleman had a career that spanned for 14 years and established a lot in his 26 fights he had in MMA.
Mark Coleman began his MMA career in the UFC and even won his first tournament at UFC 8 as he defeated Don Frye at UFC 10 in 11 minutes. Coleman’s combined time that night was just over 20 minutes and he had 3 fights that night. By winning 3 fights at UFC 10, he became the inaugural UFC heavyweight champion. Coleman went on to defend the title at UFC 12 against Dan Severn and won the fight in just under 3 minutes.
The Hammer then made his next title defence at UFC 14 against Maurice Smith. Smith was a kickboxer styled fighter and considered a heavy underdog. The fight went the distance and Smith shocked the world and became the new heavyweight champion.
Coleman took the next year off and made his come back at UFC 17 in a fight which was going to be against the the champion, Randy Couture but Randy was injured and Coleman had to fight Pete Williams. Coleman was tired after 10 minutes and Williams saw this and knocked out Coleman. This was the first time in Coleman’s career he was KO’d.
Coleman took the next year off and made his come back at UFC 17 in a fight which was going to be against the the champion, Randy Couture but Randy was injured and Coleman had to fight Pete Williams. Coleman was tired after 10 minutes and Williams saw this and knocked out Coleman. This was the first time in Coleman’s career he was KO’d.
Coleman desperately wanted to avenge these two losses and reclaim the heavyweight championship, he was scheduled to fight at UFC 18 against Pedro Rizzo which was a tournament to determine the title holder. The fight went the distance and it ended via split decision in favour of Rizzo. Coleman to this day still believes like many, he won the fight.
After the decision loss to Rizzo, Coleman went to Pride FC and fought Nobuhiko Takada who was a Japanese MMA fighter and most notably for the involvement of developing Pride. The fight another loss for Coleman as he got caught in a heel hook and submitted which many fans still speculate about.
Coleman fought later that year at Pride 8 and won by decision against Ricardo Morais.
Coleman fought later that year at Pride 8 and won by decision against Ricardo Morais.
Coleman’s next few fights were much better of him as he dominated the Pride FC 2000 openweight Grand Prix and in the semi final even won the fight in just 2 seconds due to Fujita’s corner tossing the towel in. Coleman won the tournament like o mentioned and won all 4 of his fights in the year 2000.
Pride 13 was successful for the hammer as he won against Allan Goes in just over a minute by knees. The six fight winning streak for Coleman was snapped by one of Coleman’s hardest opponents, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira which Nogueira won after six minutes of actual with a triangle armbar.
After this crushing defeat, Coleman took nearly two years off from competing in MMA and spent it with his family and developing his MMA ability. Coleman’s next fight would be at Pride 26 in the middle of 2003 against Don Frye - the man Coleman defeated at UFC 10 for the heavyweight championship. Coleman, after 20 minutes won via decision in a fight which wasn’t really packed with action, something Coleman acknowledged and apologised for in his post fight interview.
Coleman participated in the 2004 heavyweight Grand Prix and his first round match up was against then Pride heavyweight champion, Fedor Emeilanenko which Fedor won in a short contest.
Coleman participated in the 2004 heavyweight Grand Prix and his first round match up was against then Pride heavyweight champion, Fedor Emeilanenko which Fedor won in a short contest.
Coleman returned to the ring in 2005 against Mirko Cro Crop in a bout which would mark Coleman’s second knockout loss as he fell victim to brutal strikes by Cro Crop. Coleman fought later in the year against Milco Voortrekker at Bushido Europe: Rotterdam Rumble which The Hammer won in the first round in just less than a minute.
Coleman then won his next fight again - just like the previous, in less than a minute even quicker than the previous. He defeated Shogun Rua at Pride 31 in the co main event.
Coleman fought again at Pride 32, where he took on Fedor Emelianenko - the man who defeated him just 2 years prior. Fedor won again in similar fashion, an armbar. This would mark Coleman’s last fight in Pride.
Coleman was announced to be the newest inducted into the UFC hall of fame and declared that he’d be returning to the octagon. His opponent? Brock Lesnar at UFC 87 however Coleman injured himself training and would be replaced by Heath Herring. Lesnar won that fight, in case you wanted to know. So where did Coleman go next? Remember when he was supposed to fight Randy Couture at UFC 17? The fight did happen but it happened at UFC 109 which was 12 years later. Coleman was submitted by rear naked choke in the second round.
Mark Coleman then decided to retire from MMA at 48 years old, 3 years after his fight with Couture. Coleman retired with a record of 16-10 and was the UFC heavyweight champion, held the fasted win in Pride History with just 2 seconds, won 2 tournaments in the UFC and one in Pride.
