Mark Coleman has retired from mixed martial arts at age 48.
Coleman is the father of Ground n Pound, the founder of Hammer House, an inductee into the UFC Hall of Fame, the first UFC heavyweight champion, the Pride Fighting Championships 2000 Open Weight Grand Prix champion, and much more.
His MMA career spanned an extraordinary 16 years, from 1996 to 2010, and he did not begin competing the sport until some ten years after becoming a DIV I All-American, in 1986, and some four years past placing in the top 8 at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
Notable wins include Stephan Bonnar, Don Frye, Dan Severn, Shogun Rua, Igor Vovchanchyn.
The decades of combat took a toll, and Coleman now faces a total hip replacement. Official news of the retirement comes via Facebook.
Total Hip replacement next Monday. Ouch.
The hammer is done fighting. I know been done. Just looking for some prayers.
i thank everyone who will help me get through this. Have to pay to play sometimes. Only regret is could have worked harder.
Love you all live your dream.