UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman was hospitalized Tuesday night after he, his parents and his dog were involved in a house fire, according to his daughter Morgan via Instagram.
According to Morgan, Coleman was able to save both his mother and his father from the blaze, but was unable to rescue his dog, Hammer. Coleman was airlifted from the scene to the hospital.
“Our father has always been our hero and means the world to us. He is and always will be a fighter. The strongest [and] bravest man I know,” his daughter wrote.
The 59-year-old, a standout in NCAA wrestling, started competing at UFC in 1996 and became the first heavyweight champion in 1997 at UFC 12.
He was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame’s Pioneer Wing in 2008 and the Fighter’s Wing in 2016. He announced his retirement from mixed martial arts 11 years ago.
