UFC legend Mark Coleman was hospitalized Wednesday after saving his parents from a house fire in Fremont, Ohio, on Tuesday, his family announced. The ex-combatant left the house with his father and mother and then returned to save his dog.
According to fellow Hall of Famer and heavyweight Dan Severn, Coleman is exactly that type of guy.
“Was I surprised that he ran into a burning building? No,” Severn said. The Athletic About the friend and rival whose legendary bout at UFC 12 won Coleman the inaugural UFC Heavyweight Championship.
Prayers and best wishes to my friend Mark Coleman. He bravely rescued his parents from a fire in his home and is currently in hospital in critical condition. Mark has always been a fighter and is still fighting for his life. pic.twitter.com/jYu55lvUkK
— Dan Severn (@danbeastsevern) March 12, 2024
Coleman's daughter Morgan, 59, said Coleman “managed to get her parents out of the house, but despite her best efforts, she was unable to save Hummer, the family dog.” . After this heroic act, (Mark) was taken to the hospital and is currently continuing to fight for his life. ”
The Ballville Volunteer Fire Department responded to the fire just after 4 a.m. Tuesday, WTOL reported. The fire chief said the roof collapsed shortly after crews entered the home, and the home now appears to be a total loss.
According to the police station, seven fire departments responded to the fire, which appeared to have started in the kitchen.
“That speaks volumes,” Severn said of Coleman running into the house. “You have to look at the sport that Mark comes from. People only know about Mark because of this mixed martial arts, people only know about Dan Severn because of mixed martial arts and pro wrestling, but they are amateurs. They don’t understand the fundamentals that a sport like wrestling brings to a person.”
Both Coleman and Severn had historic amateur wrestling careers before turning to mixed martial arts. Coleman wrestled as a member of the U.S. Olympic team in 1992 and previously starred at Ohio State University.
“Does the fact that he ran in shock me? No,” Severn repeated. “Because that’s part of the moral fabric that a sport like amateur wrestling teaches.”
“I didn't know Mark growing up. I only knew him when he was wrestling in college and when he competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It wasn't until then that our paths crossed. But there's an automatic brotherhood between amateur wrestlers knowing he comes from the same type of background.”
Mark's mother, Connie Coleman, thanked her son and asked for prayers in a Facebook post late Tuesday night.
“Thank God we are alive,” she wrote. “Praying for Mark! Thank you to all the firefighters. And the Sheriff's Department. EMS Red Cross. And especially my family. None of this would have been possible without you! I love you all!”
Author Jonathan Snowden said on social media that he was writing a book about Coleman's life and shared photos of the fire's aftermath.
This is the remains of the house where Mark Coleman and his family were last night.
Mark's dog, Hammer, wakes up to find his house engulfed in flames. He saves his parents and fights for his life. pic.twitter.com/hicYhv7SDm
— Jonathan Snowden (@JESnowden) March 12, 2024
Current fighter Derek BrunsonMatt Brown and Gaston Reyno also shared their support on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Coleman, who earned the nickname “The Godfather of Ground and Pound,” was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2008.
He has been active on social media in recent years, recovering from a heart attack in 2020 and entering a rehab facility in 2021 to battle alcoholism, and regularly talks about his fitness and healthy lifestyle. He shares his progress with his followers, such as posting on Twitter.
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(Photo: Ed Mulholland / Zuffa LLC / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
