Post by Head Booker on Mar 7, 2008 16:53:42 GMT -6
Hall of Famer Coleman gets set to fight Lesnar by BRIAN KNAPP, The Fight Network
Mark Coleman dropped a bombshell at UFC 82 in Columbus.
After becoming the fifth inductee into the UFC Hall-of-Fame, the 43-year-old announced he will return to the Octagon for the first time in nearly a decade when he meets former World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Brock Lesnar in August.
"This is a very special night, but my main goal is to get back in that cage and fight," Coleman said. "[Lesnar's] a beast...he's an animal, but don't bet the house against me."
A two-time All-American and former national champion with the Ohio State University wrestling team, Coleman joined Randy Couture, Ken Shamrock, Royce Gracie and Dan Severn as the only men to receive the UFC's highest honor. Coleman last competed in October 2006 and has not set foot inside the Octagon since dropping a decision to Pedro Rizzo at UFC 18 more than nine years ago.
Widely credited with introducing ground-and-pound into the world of mixed martial arts, Coleman wrestled in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, before he moved on to a successful career in MMA. He has competed against some of the world's premier heavyweights, including Fedor Emelianenko (twice), Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
Coleman, who became the UFC's first heavyweight champion in 1997, cemented his legacy in May 2000 when he ended Igor Vovchanchyn's 31-fight unbeaten streak to become the first grand prix champion in Pride history.
A monstrous 265-pound South Dakotan, Lesnar (1-1, 0-1 UFC) submitted to a kneebar from Frank Mir at UFC 81 "Breaking Point" last month in Las Vegas. Lesnar was impressive in his defeat, however, as he had the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt in trouble for much of the 90-second fight. "Breaking Point" drew an estimated 600,000 pay-per-view buys and Lesnar was largely credited with driving interest in the show.
The 30-year-old arrived in the UFC with an amateur wrestling pedigree few can match. A four-time collegiate All-American, Lesnar posted an incredible 106-5 record at the University of Minnesota and won the 2000 NCAA championship as a heavyweight. Based at the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy, he trains alongside former UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk and reigning Bodog Fight welterweight titleholder Nick Thompson.
Mark Coleman dropped a bombshell at UFC 82 in Columbus.
After becoming the fifth inductee into the UFC Hall-of-Fame, the 43-year-old announced he will return to the Octagon for the first time in nearly a decade when he meets former World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Brock Lesnar in August.
"This is a very special night, but my main goal is to get back in that cage and fight," Coleman said. "[Lesnar's] a beast...he's an animal, but don't bet the house against me."
A two-time All-American and former national champion with the Ohio State University wrestling team, Coleman joined Randy Couture, Ken Shamrock, Royce Gracie and Dan Severn as the only men to receive the UFC's highest honor. Coleman last competed in October 2006 and has not set foot inside the Octagon since dropping a decision to Pedro Rizzo at UFC 18 more than nine years ago.
Widely credited with introducing ground-and-pound into the world of mixed martial arts, Coleman wrestled in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, before he moved on to a successful career in MMA. He has competed against some of the world's premier heavyweights, including Fedor Emelianenko (twice), Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
Coleman, who became the UFC's first heavyweight champion in 1997, cemented his legacy in May 2000 when he ended Igor Vovchanchyn's 31-fight unbeaten streak to become the first grand prix champion in Pride history.
A monstrous 265-pound South Dakotan, Lesnar (1-1, 0-1 UFC) submitted to a kneebar from Frank Mir at UFC 81 "Breaking Point" last month in Las Vegas. Lesnar was impressive in his defeat, however, as he had the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt in trouble for much of the 90-second fight. "Breaking Point" drew an estimated 600,000 pay-per-view buys and Lesnar was largely credited with driving interest in the show.
The 30-year-old arrived in the UFC with an amateur wrestling pedigree few can match. A four-time collegiate All-American, Lesnar posted an incredible 106-5 record at the University of Minnesota and won the 2000 NCAA championship as a heavyweight. Based at the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy, he trains alongside former UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk and reigning Bodog Fight welterweight titleholder Nick Thompson.
That would be a pussy way to get a first victory if you ask me.
