Mark Coleman MMAMemories.com Exclusive Biofile Published by Scoop Malinowski Last Updated on January 7th, 2009

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Status: Former Pride Heavyweight Grand Prix and UFC Heavyweight
champion. Member of UFC Hall of Fame.

Ht: 6-1 Wt: 240

DOB: December 20, 1964 In: Fremont, Ohio

Childhood Heroes: “Well, my father (dan). Just about any professional athlete.”

Nickname: The Hammer.

Hobbies/Leisure Activities: “Well, I love spending time with my family. Taking them out to dinner or bowling, because most of my time is training and traveling. I love playing tennis and golf. I can beat just about any scrub without a tennis background. (My shots) have no power at all but I place it well. Kevin Randleman gets just about anything I hit, he’s incredibly fast. But he hits it either long or in the net. I also enjoy coaching or personal training other people. I’m a good motivator.”

Favorite Movies: “Cool Hand Luke. Pulp Fiction. Quentin Tarantino movies.”

Musical Tastes: “Just about anything but country. But I can handle it when I’m out in Iowa training with the Iowa boys.”

Favorite TV Shows: “I like watching sports. I look forward to the main events of any sports playoffs, even a little playoff hockey.”

Favorite Meal: “I love some real, high quality sushi. It’s gotta be fresh. Right behind it is Korean barbecue.”

Favorite Breakfast Cereal: “They’re all pretty good. I’ll say Cap’n Crunch.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”

Childhood Dream: “I wanted to be a professional athlete from the age
of five.”

Funny Fighting Memory: “I was cornering Big Daddy Goodridge in Brazil (IVC 1) Back then groin strikes were legal. So I’m in Goodridge’s corner for his brawl with ‘The Pedro’ (Pedro Otavio). Back and forth the whole time. Pedro had been messing with Big Daddy’s cup all night. Goodridge had enough of it. Though I didn’t see it exactly, rumor has it Goodridge reached down into Pedro’s shorts and gave him a real hard squeeze. Pedro let out a big scream and Big Daddy hits him with a right and Pedro falls on his ass. Fight was over. Nothing funny in my fights though. Just get ‘em over with and get out of there.”

First Job: “I worked for my father. He remodeled houses. My favorite part was busting out some walls. I enjoyed tearing down a big wall. I also had to pull nails out of boards and then straighten them. I didn’t particularly enjoy that much [smiles].”

First Car: “I can’t remember. But I remember my dad kept sticking me with Dodge Omni Horizons. Pretty embarrassing when you weight 220. I drove one of them up until I competed in the UFC. I didn’t get my first nice car until I beat Don Frye at UFC 10 in ’96. I got a black Mitsubishi Montero.”

Early Fighting Memory: “When I realized the fight was over with Don Frye. When I felt his taps on my stomach. I don’t think I ever felt that emotionally high from a sports victory. From that I thought I had a chance to be somebody. I’ll admit, towards the end I was concerned when they wouldn’t stop it. Don Frye showed what kind of heart he has. Truly overwhelming. Just a great, great feeling. Me and Don are friends now.”

Greatest Sports Moment: “Winning the Pride Grand Prix Championship. When I felt Igor Vovchanchyn’s taps on my stomach, 2001 in Tokyo. I’d say that’s my biggest win. Directly behind it is beating Don Frye for that UFC title. It seems your best memory is your most recent. It took 18 knees to the head, which is truly unbelievable. I thought I was in a whole lot of trouble – it shouldn’t take 18 knees, only a couple. Because the man truly has a steel head. I was more emotionally overwhelmed after that win than I was over Frye. It was something that put me back on top. It was like I was able to say, ‘I told you so,’ to a lot of people.”

Most Painful Moment: “The Pete Williams knockout loss. That was way back in 1998. Getting kicked in the teeth. I rushed back into training after my legs healed from the leg kicks in a loss to Maurice Smith, because I was so embarrassed. The rematch was set. But then one of my training partners took me down for the first time ever. He drove his shoulder into my thigh and hyper-extended my knee. My ACL was torn completely in half. That set me back and the rematch with Maurice Smith was off. That injury led to my most painful moment. I tried to fight Pete Williams after seven months. I wanted back in the ring so bad. A tired fighter is a no good fighter. And he kicked me right in the middle of the teeth. But I survived that. And that’s what it’s all about. You either pack up and go home…or you come back stronger.”

Pre-Fight Feeling: “Every fight has been completely different. And it shows in the ring – what you’re feeling inside. In my wins I was feeling good and confident. In my losses my mind was on some other things other than just fighting. In the beginning I didn’t have the knowledge. I’d get all fired up and hyped up, like I did for wrestling. It worked well for me to be fired up and crazed. When the sport got more technical and the talent of the fighters so much improved, I try to be calm. Now, I know you have to do your homework and be able to walk into that ring knowing you’re gonna kick his ass. I usually do well then. Becoming a champion is very, very boring. It’s not a lot of fun. It requires so much focus and tunnel vision. Eat, sleep and work. If there’s time for any hobbies you probably didn’t train hard enough. But when you get your arm raised and you become a champion, it’s all worth it.”

Favorite Fighters To Watch: “Vanderlei Silva – he’s just fearless. Always on the attack. And he always excites the crowd. Randy Couture – a former wrestler. He dominates the clinch position. Knows the ground game. He’s so dedicated to the sport. Frank Shamrock is truly one of the best ever. Jens Pulver – I know him personally, worked out with him personally. I know how much heart and dedication he’s put in to become somebody. I respect every man who steps in there. Because I know how much balls and training it takes to get there. I love the fans but I wish they knew the sport more and would be a little more patient during the strategic moments. Like, I heard way too much booing at UFC 35. All those fights were truly exciting to me. B.J. Penn.”

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