Mark Coleman: The Hammer Still Swings
Mark Coleman: The Hammer Still Swings
Mark "The Hammer" Coleman is a UFC Hall of Famer, former UFC Heavyweight Champion, and one of the true pioneers who built mixed martial arts from the ground up. A decorated Division I wrestler who became the first dominant ground-and-pound force in MMA history, Coleman's legacy is inseparable from the sport itself. In this Chats with Ben conversation, he sits down with Ben Bubb to reflect on building MMA from nothing, what the fighter's life actually costs, and why he's never stopped competing — in or out of the cage.
[Episode coming soon — subscribe on YouTube to be notified when it drops.]
"I was the first guy to take the best wrestlers in the world and turn them into MMA champions. Nobody knew if it would work. We made it work."
"Ground and pound wasn't a style. It was survival. You figure out what works with what God gave you."
"People don't understand what it costs to be a pioneer. There's no roadmap. You're just going forward and hoping the ground doesn't give out."
"Pride FC was the peak. Those were the best fighters in the world at the time, and we were all in there together. That doesn't happen anymore."
"I never did this for money. I did it because I needed to know what I was made of. I still need to know."
→ Chats with Ben — all episodes | Shop BLANC
