Guide Note:Mark Coleman also known as "The Hammer", is an american mixed martial arts competitor. He is a former UFC heavyweight champion, and a UFC superfight champion. Mark started his career fighting freestyle. He is the inventor of the "ground and pound", and he is known for his ability to dominate his opponent. He is a former NCAA National Champion Wrestler at Ohio State University. In 1991 Mark placed 2nd in the FILA World Freestyle Wrestiling Championship, and won a gold medal in the 1991 PanAmerican games. In 1992 right out of college, he wrestled on the US Wrestling team and placed 7th in the Barcelona Summer Olympics Games. In 1996 Mark made s professional debut as the UFC 10 Tournament, where he won against Moti Horenstein and "Big Daddy" Gary Goodridge. From 2000 to 2006 Coleman started PRIDE fighting championships in Japan. He won the PRIDE 2000 open weight Grand Prix tournament. For the next five years he faced tough competition and he maintained his reputation as one of the toughest heavyweights in the world. Mark on the US PPV broadcast of the final PRIDE match stated he intended to keep fighting even though previous remarks were made about his retirement. During a July 2007 interview with MMA Weekly.com, Mark said his intentions were to return to fight at least one more time in The Ulimate Fighting Championship. Mark says "I still have more fight in me". Mark is also the founder of Team Hammer House, a mixed martial arts training facility. Coleman has planned his next fight for late summer 2008 against Brock Lesnar. At the UFC 82 was inducted into the Ulitmate Fighting Championship Hall of Fame, making Mark the 5th inductee.
Fast Facts:
- Date of Birth: December 20, 1964
- Nickname: "The Hammer"
- Fighting Style: Freestyle Wrestling
- Fighting out of: Ohio
- Founder of: "The Hammer House"
- Member of the UFC Hall of Fame
- Former Olympic amateur wrestler
- 2 time UFC tournament champion
- Mark does not plan on retiring any time soon
- He is one of the toughest heavyweights in the world
