Mark Coleman was hospitalized due to smoke inhalation on March 12th, 2024. The UFC hall-of-famer awakened to the house fire and got his parents outside before returning to help his dog, Hammer. Sadly, the dog passed away, and Mark was rushed to the hospital, “fighting for his life.”
Fortunately, as of March 13th, Coleman was awake and laughing with his family, saying, “I’m the happiest man in the world.”
While this is likely Coleman’s most heroic act, he was already a legend to mixed martial arts fans. “The Hammer” was one of the first American wrestlers to dominate international MMA competitions. He became the first UFC heavyweight champion at UFC 10 in 1996, and won the Pride FC Grand Prix in 2000, making him one of the only athletes to hold titles in both organizations.
Many photos of Mark with his family from over the years have been shared on social media since the fire, showing a legacy that may inspire people of all ages.
Mark’s daughter Morgan started a GoFundMe campaign on March 13th, which reached over $120,000 ($20,000 higher than the goal) within five days.
Mark Coleman is active on Instagram, so you can follow him if you want to get more up dates. He recently posted an emotional video carousel telling the story from his own perspective.
This video broke me
Dudes a hero