Mark Coleman

Coleman vs. Bonnar Possible for UFC 100

In what would be a very fitting next fight for Mark Coleman, at least terms of the event, the first-ever UFC heavyweight champion is reportedly in talks to face “Ultimate Fighter” runner-up Stephan Bonnar at UFC 100 in July.

From MMA Junkie:

A light-heavyweight bout between UFC hall-of-famer Mark Coleman (15-9 MMA, 6-4 UFC) and “The Ultimate Fighter 1” runner-up Stephan Bonnar (11-5 MMA, 5-4 UFC) could take place at July’s UFC 100 event.

However, a source close to Coleman today told MMAjunkie.com bout agreements have not been signed and the 44-year-old fighter “didn’t hear about the fight until this morning.”

I know the idea of UFC legends fighting at the event is a bit played out, (Ken Shamrock vs. Royce Gracie III? C’mon now) but I definitely wouldn’t mind seeing a few other names from the past like Coleman on the card, albeit they are willing and able. And I don’t mean bringing in Tank Abbott again. Guys like Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture who are already under contract would be ideal.

UFC 93 Pre-Fight Press Conference Video

Here’s video from Thursday’s pre-fight press conference for UFC 93. Video of Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson speaking to the media is above. Comments from Mark Coleman, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, John Hathaway, and Tom Egan follow after the jump.

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Video: Kenny Florian Breaks Down Franklin-Henderson, Coleman-Rua

In the above video, UFC lightweight contender Kenny Florian breaks the two high-profile matchups that will headline Saturday’s UFC 93 event in Dublin, Ireland: Rich Franklin vs. Dan Henderson and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Mark Coleman.

Video: Coleman Confident Going Into UFC 93

In the above video, UFC Hall-of-Famer Mark Coleman discusses his anticipated rematch with former PRIDE light heavyweight standout Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at this Saturday’s UFC 93 event, which takes place at the O2 Arena in Dublin, Ireland. 

Video: “Shogun” Talks Rematch With Coleman

In the above video, former PRIDE light heavyweight standout Mauricio “Shogun” Rua discusses his anticipated rematch with UFC Hall-of-Famer Mark Coleman at this Saturday’s UFC 93 event, which takes place at the O2 Arena in Dublin, Ireland.

Countdown to UFC 93 Available for Free Viewing at UFC.com

“Countdown to UFC 93”, which will unfortunately not be airing on television in North America, is now available for free viewing on the UFC’s official website.

UFC Announces First Event in Dublin, Ireland

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – The world’s most exciting sport returns to the Emerald Isle as the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) organization opens up 2009 with the star-powered UFC 93 card at the O2-Dublin in Dublin, Ireland on January 17, 2009.

In the light heavyweight main event, former two-division world champion Dan Henderson will collide with former UFC middleweight king Rich Franklin in three-round war which will set the tone for the 205lbs division in 2009.

Then, 2005 PRIDE® Grand Prix Champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua returns to the Octagon™ to throw down with UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman in a rematch MMA fans thought they would never see. The pair last met in Japan in 2006, with the legendary Coleman pulling off a stunning upset by breaking Rua’s arm in the first round.

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Shogun-Coleman Possible for December

After almost a year of inactivity, former PRIDE standout Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is currently targeting a potential return to action in December. His opponent for the UFC’s annual pre-New Year’s Eve show may be an old foe - none other than former UFC heavyweight champion Mark Coleman.

Rua expressed his desire to fight Coleman and even went as far to say that a bout between the two is currently in talks to take place at the end of this year with Brazilian magazine Tatame. “I might face Coleman in December, but nothing has been signed yet,” Rua said in a recent article.

The two originally faced each other at PRIDE 31: Dreamers in February 2006. Coleman was declared the winner after less than a minute after “Shogun” broke his arm while being taken down to the mat. After the bout a brawl ensued between members of Coleman and Rua’s respective camps. Phil Baroni and Wanderlei Silva exchanged blows and Coleman even stomped on Silva’s face at one point. An apology from Hammer House to Chute Boxe was unaccepted and bad blood between the two teams remains.

Both are also coming off injuries. Rua’s scheduled showdown against Chuck Liddell for June was called off after Rua suffered a ruptured ACL in his left knee. Coleman was signed to take on fellow standout wrestler Brock Lesnar next month but withdrew from the bout due to a torn MCL. A Rua-Coleman matchup would likely narrow down the list of future opponents for new 205 lb. champion Forrest Griffin, who will now likely face the winner of Chuck Liddell vs. Rashad Evans’ fall bout at the end of the year.

Coleman Injured; GSP-Fitch Set for August

UFC Hall-of-Famer Mark Coleman’s return to the organization has been put on hold courtesy of a knee injury while UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre will attempt to be successful in another first title defense as he takes on undefeated upstart Jon Fitch in the main event of UFC 87: Seek and Destroy in August.

The organization announced the addition and change to the fight card for the event earlier today.

Coleman was scheduled to take on former professional wrestler turned mixed martial artist Brock Lesnar in his return bout. However Coleman reportedly tore his MCL and will be out of action for up to six weeks according to Sherdog.com. The injury will not require surgery. Lesnar will remain on the card and an opponent for him will be announced shortly.

St. Pierre avenged a prior loss to former champion Matt Serra last month, stopping the Long Island native in the first round. He will take on Fitch, a former collegiate wrestling standout at Purdue University, who has won all of his eight fights inside the confines of the UFC to date.

“The whole goal is to get the belt and be in the position where guys can’t duck me, run away, or say they don’t want to fight me,” Fitch said on UFC.com. “If I have the belt, there’s no excuse, and if you say you’re the best, then we’re gonna fight. This is gonna be a tough fight, but I’m gonna make sure I’m sharp that night, and wherever the fight needs to go, that’s fine with me.”

A bout between lightweight contenders Roger Huerta and Kenny Florian will also take place on the card, which will serve as the UFC’s inaugural event held in the state of Minnesota.

Coleman Honored; Announces Lesnar Fight

Mark Coleman became the fifth inductee into the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s Hall of Fame last night in front of a supportive 16,431 at the Nationwide Arena in Coleman’s hometown of Columbus, Ohio.

The unannounced induction came as a surprise to the fans inside the arena, who watched as Coleman was honored inside the cage along with his family by UFC President Dana White.

Fortunately for fans around the world, Coleman had a surprise of his own. The former UFC heavyweight champion announced that he will fighting inside the confines of the organization for the first time since 1999 when he takes on fellow amateur wrestling standout Brock Lesnar in August.

“I’m going to dedicate my life to my return,” Coleman told UFC color commentator Joe Rogan during an interview last night. “The fans want to see me. I’m going to do the best I can. Lesrnar is a beast. He’s an animal. Don’t bet the house against me though. I’m going to bring something for Brock Lesnar. I plan to beat his butt.”

The 43-year-old Coleman has not fought since being submitted by Fedor Emelianenko in October 2006. The former Olympic wrestler is one of only three other fighters that won multiple tournaments during the UFC’s early years. Coleman defeated the likes of Don Frye and Gary Goodridge to win tournaments at UFC 10 and UFC 11 respectively.

Coleman became the first UFC heavyweight champion in history when he submitted Dan Severn at UFC 12: Judgment Day in 1997. The founder of Team Hammer House is also widely considered to be the originator of the “ground and pound” style of fighting that has become a mainstay in the sport.

Frank Mir withered a barrage of punishment from Lesnar in his debut fight t at UFC 81: Breaking Point last month before submitting the genetic monster with a patented kneebar midway through the first round.

Justin McCully, who served as one of three special guests on a recent episode of HDNet’s Inside MMA, publicly stated that he was in discussions with UFC officials concerning a return fight from recent elbow surgery against the former professional wrestler. Obviously UFC officials went the other way.