Mark Coleman, the first-ever UFC Heavyweight champion, is fighting for his life after saving family members from a fire in his house.
Coleman, 59, was awoken early Tuesday morning when his house, in Fremont, Ohio was engulfed in flames. He saved both of his parents from the fire, getting them outside to safety. After that, he went back in, hoping to save his dog, Hammer, who had alerted him of the fire.
Sadly, Coleman passed out from smoke inhalation before he could save Hammer, who passed away in the fire. Coleman’s daughter, Morgan Coleman, shared in an Instagram post that her father “was life-flighted to the hospital where he is currently battling for his life after this heroic act.”
View this post on Instagram
“Our father has always been our hero and means the world to us. He is and always will be a fighter. The strongest and bravest man I know. Please continue to pray for him and our family during this extremely difficult time. We will miss our sweet hammer so deeply.”
The MMA honored her wishes sending its collective wishes to Coleman and his family on Tuesday as news of the fire and its aftermath became known.
🚨| UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman was involved in a house fire last night where he saved his father and mother from the blaze.
He went back in to save his dog who woke him up, first alerting him of the fire.
Coleman passed out in the house whilst saving his dog and was was… pic.twitter.com/ctwY5OKRtY
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) March 12, 2024
Mark Coleman saved both his parents from a raging house fire, then went back in for the dog. He had to be lifeflighted to the hospital.
If anyone can beat back death itself, it's Mark.
We were close to doing a book and it would have been a fascinating ride. A big, badass life. pic.twitter.com/Ll7ILAP995
— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) March 12, 2024
Sending prayers to The Godfather of Ground & Pound, the 1st UFC Heavyweight Champion in history, Mark Coleman🙏🏽
He was in a severe house fire last night where he saved his parents and had to be airlifted to a hospital due to smoke inhalation🙏🏽
HammerHouse4Life pic.twitter.com/7JAyvlc5wP
— DJ MurkCity (@myrksitymma) March 12, 2024
Mark Coleman is a hero.
Saved his parents and his dog from a house fire.
He's hospitalized and in rough shape. Sending him all the love pic.twitter.com/UvUQUPAj34
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) March 12, 2024
Please join me in sending prayers and our best wishes to my friend Mark Coleman. He bravely rescued his parents from a fire in their home and is now in critical condition in the hospital. Mark has always been a fighter and is now fighting for his life. pic.twitter.com/jYu55lvUkK
— Dan Severn (@danbeastsevern) March 12, 2024
Coleman is in the UFC Hall of Fame in the Pioneer Wing. In addition to MMA, he was also on the United States Olympic team in 1992, finishing seventh in Freestyle at 100kg.
[Morgan Coleman on Instagram, Photo Credit: UFC on YouTube]
