Mark Coleman, a retired mixed martial artist and UFC Hall of Fame inductee, was hospitalized for smoke inhalation on Tuesday after he rescued his parents from a house fire in Ohio.
Coleman reportedly went back into the home to try and rescue the family dog as well.
He passed out at that point and had to be airlifted to a hospital.
Sadly, the pup, named Hammer which is Coleman’s fighting nickname, did not make it. Hammer has been credited in reports with having alerted those in the house about the fire.
An image of Coleman laid up in the hospital was posted to social media by combat sports journalist Jonathan Snowden.
“Mark Coleman saved both his parents from a raging house fire, then went back in for the dog. He had to be life-flighted to the hospital,” Snowden reports. “If anyone can beat back death itself, it’s Mark.”
Mark Coleman Is A Hero
Snowden also posted images of the completely destroyed home. He added that Mark Coleman is “fighting for his life.”
Coleman’s daughter posted a story on Instagram that helps further describe her father’s heroic actions.
“As many know, our dad was involved in a house fire early this morning along with his parents and beloved dog, Hammer,” she wrote. “He managed to carry both of his parents out of the house but despite his best efforts was not able to save Hammer. He was life-flighted to the hospital where he is currently battling for his life after this heroic act.
“Our father has always been our hero and means the world to us. He is and always will be a fighter,” she added while asking for prayers for her Dad and the family.
The Godfather Of Ground & Pound
Mark Coleman earned several nicknames during his UFC career. Hammer, as discussed above, was one of them. Another was ‘The Godfather of Ground & Pound.’
Coleman is undoubtedly a pioneer in combat sports. He won the UFC 10 and 11 tournaments and became the inaugural UFC Heavyweight champion by submitting Dan Severn.
He also had a successful run in PRIDE, defeating notable fighters like Don Frye and Igor Vovchanchyn.
Coleman retired from MMA in 2013 and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2008. But now he’s in the biggest fight of his life.
A GoFundMe has been started for him and his family. Please check it out.
