Former UFC champion Mark Coleman is “fighting for his life” after rescuing his parents from a house fire in Ohio, his daughter Morgan said.
Morgan Coleman posted on Instagram on Tuesday the tragic details of a house fire that claimed the life of her dog.
“As many of you know, our dad was involved in a house fire early this morning along with his parents and his dog Hammer,” the Instagram post read.
“He managed to get his parents out of the house, but despite his best efforts, he was unable to save Hammer. After this heroic act, he was rushed to the hospital, where he is now lifeless. I’m fighting for it.
“Our father has always been our hero and means the world to us. He is and always will be a fighter. The strongest, bravest man I know. This very Please keep him and our family in your prayers during this difficult time. We will miss this sweet Hammer very much. Thank you for all the love and support. Hammer House for life.”
According to CBS affiliate WTOLFremont, Ohio firefighters responded to a call about a fire just after 4 a.m. Tuesday.
The fire apparently started in the kitchen, but the exact cause is unknown.
The fire caused the roof of the house to collapse and the house was “completely destroyed.”
Coleman, 59, had an MMA career from 1996 to 2010, starting with the UFC, then competing in the Pride Fighting Championships, then returning to the UFC.
He won the UFC 10 and UFC 11 tournaments, and defeated Dan Severn via neck crank submission at UFC 12 to become the promotion’s first heavyweight champion.
He was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2008.
Coleman has had other struggles in recent years, including suffering a heart attack in 2020 and checking into rehab for alcoholism in 2021.
His parents died in a house fire. Zuffa LLC
According to USA TodayHe has since been “using his experiences to promote healthy living and sobriety” on social media.
In addition to Morgan, Coleman has two daughters, Mackenzie and Skylar.
