Mark Coleman is an NCAA Division I wrestling champion for Ohio State University, an All-American for Miami (Ohio) University, and a World silver medalist and Olympian for the United States.

Nicknamed "The Hammer", he was the first UFC heavyweight champion and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2008.

While staying with his parents in his childhood home in March of 2024, Coleman was awakened at 3 a.m. by his beloved dog and training partner, Lil’ Hammer, an 11-month-old Rottweiler.

Getting up to get a glass of water, Coleman saw what he thought were clouds in the kitchen. When he went to open the door to let in fresh air, he burned his hand on the door knob.

Realizing it was smoke and not clouds, Coleman immediately thought of his parents, asleep in their bedroom.

After yelling for them and not receiving a response, he began moving through the burning house. Fearing they were already dead, he finally heard his mother answer.

Reaching their room, he had them interlock arms and began to lead them out. Gently tugging his 83-year-old father, Coleman reached the garage, relieved. As he turned around, he realized that it was only his father with him.

After getting his father out of the house, Coleman went back in to save his mother, an 80-year-old lifelong asthmatic who hadn't made it out of the bedroom. She had turned on a bedside lamp that Coleman followed through the smoke. While pulling her to safety, Coleman tumbled sideways, but years of wrestling took over and he regained his footing.

His mother safely outside, Coleman returned to the house to find his beloved dog, who had helped him rebound from multiple hip surgeries.

Coleman was unable to find his faithful companion and succumbed to smoke inhalation and passed out.

He was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Ohio after inhaling harmful amounts of smoke, and placed into a medically induced coma as doctors worked to clear his lungs.

After waking up, Coleman was told by his adult daughters, McKenzie and Morgan, that his parents were safe and recovering at his sister's home, but that Lil’ Hammer had died of smoke inhalation.

Three days out of the hospital, Coleman was exercising again, joined by King Martell, another Rottweiler he’d adopted to keep him company.

He has continued his recovery while working to stay sober and get his body back in shape.