A video posted on social media shows the American in his hospital room hugging his daughters Morgan and Kenzie as he recalls what happened that day.
“I’m the luckiest person in the world,” Coleman said. “Oh my God, I’m so lucky. I can’t believe my parents are alive. I had to make a decision because I walked out of my room and I couldn’t breathe anymore. I almost went outside and then came back in and carried them out. I can’t believe I did that, but I couldn’t find our dog Hammer.”
The mixed martial arts veteran collapsed as he returned to the burning house to retrieve his dog, who ended up dying in the fire.
Mark Coleman, 59, is the inaugural UFC heavyweight champion and PRIDE grand prix winner. Wearing the nicknames “The Hammer” and “The Godfather of Ground-and-Pound,” the American heavyweight was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame as a member of the Pioneer Wing, and as a member of the Fighting Wing.
Coleman suffered a heart attack in 2020 and entered alcohol rehab in 2021, and has been actively promoting sobriety and healthy lifestyles ever since.
Mark Coleman’s last professional fight was in February 2010 at UFC 109 in Las Vegas, losing by rear-naked choke to fellow legend Randy Couture.