Mark ‘The Hammer’ Coleman is well known as the first UFC heavyweight champion. Prior to his career in the UFC, he was an NCAA wrestling champion at Ohio State. This led him to compete in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics on the U.S. wrestling team, where he placed 7th overall.
In July of 1996, at UFC 10, Mark Coleman became the promotion’s first ever heavyweight champion. With a powerful skillset in wrestling, his opponents typically lost once Coleman got them to the mat and unleashed a fury of strikes or chokehold. Coleman’s fighting style lead him to be known as “The Godfather of Ground and Pound“.
Due to Coleman’s introduction and success of his ground and pound technique, many subsequent fighters have incorporated the technique in their style. Though he is now enjoying his retirement, Mark Coleman was once known as a force to be reckoned with inside the Octagon. He is also known as a mentor to many fighters who came later.
At his gym, Team Hammer House, Mark Coleman trained with standout mixed martial artists such as Phil Baroni and Kevin Randleman. Through coaching and mentorship, he has helped up-and-coming fighters, while solidifying his legacy as a transformative figure in the sport.
Mark Coleman’s personal journey is a testament to his devotion to his family and himself. He has three children that he adores. Coleman has persevered with challenges from within the cage and outside of the Octagon. This includes battling numerous health issues.
Coleman was good friends with another former UFC champion, Mark Kerr. In fact, Coleman was in a documentary about Kerr. It is called “The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Mark Kerr”. The documentary is currently being remade into a movie starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson as Kerr, whom we will talk about in the next installment of this series.
Mark Coleman was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2008. To be inducted in the UFC Hall of Fame and to carry a great legacy as the mixed martial artist is a wonderful recognition to his contributions to the sport.
In March of 2024, Coleman was involved in a house fire, in his hometown of Toledo, Ohio. In the aftermath, Mark stated, “he’s ‘blessed and grateful’ after surviving house fire.” Luckily, Mark was able to save his parents in this fire. Unfortunately, his dog and companion died. It’s difficult enough to lose a pet to illness or old age. However, this was a traumatic situation for Coleman ultimately losing his best friend.
MMA & Boxing Columnist | Business Development Consultant
I have been a fan and avid viewer of all combat sports for decades. I was once a Judoka, which is what eventually piqued my interest in Mixed Martial Arts. I have been a spectator of the UFC since 2001. For 25 years I’ve worked in healthcare, and now am trying to make something that was a hobby, into a full-time endeavor.