UFC's inaugural heavyweight champion Mark Coleman is fighting for his life after heroically saving his parents from a house fire Tuesday morning.
Multiple departments responded to a structure fire in the 2700 block of South River Road in Fremont, Ohio, just after 4 a.m., WTOL 11 reports. The report confirms that the family members left the home, but one person, Coleman, was found unconscious inside the burning house and was airlifted to a local hospital. Coleman is said to have physically removed her parents from the home as the fire quickly spread and got out of control. After Coleman retrieved her father and mother, he reportedly ran in again to try to save her dog.
First responders at the scene said the fire started in the kitchen, but the exact cause has not been determined. The house appears to be a total loss.
Mark Coleman's condition was not clear at the time of initial reporting, but a recent Instagram post by Full Send MMA said everyone is keeping the former NCAA Division I national champion in their thoughts and prayers. I'm keeping it.
“Please keep UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman in your prayers. He was in a house fire last night and saved his parents. He had to be airlifted to the hospital due to smoke inhalation.”
Mark Coleman's legendary run in mixed martial arts
Mark Coleman is a two-time UFC Hall of Famer, first joining the Pioneer Wing as a member of the 2008 class. Eight years later, he was inducted into the Fight Wing Hall of Fame for his classic UFC 17 fight with Pete Williams.
Making his promotional debut at UFC 10, “The Hammer” went on to win consecutive heavyweight tournaments until he submitted Dan Severn to win the inaugural UFC Heavyweight Championship. After his first fight in the UFC, Coleman ventured to Japan and had a series of legendary clashes with the likes of Don Frye, Fedor Emelianenko, Mirko Cro Cop and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.
He returned to the Octagon in 2009 and had a rematch with “Shogun” at UFC 93. He also faced the late Stephen Bonnar at UFC 100 and ended his career in February 2010 against fellow legend Randy Couture.