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Despite headlining the organization's most recent card, UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman has been cut from the UFC's roster of light heavyweights.
Fiveouncesofpain.com first reported the termination, which MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has since confirmed with a source close to the UFC.
Coleman, a former NCAA Division I national wrestling champion and the first-ever UFC heavyweight title-holder, went 1-2 in the UFC after coming out of retirement and rejoining the UFC in 2008.
On Feb. 6 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, he suffered a second-round submission loss to fellow ex-champ Randy Couture in the night's pay-per-view main event.
As MMAjunkie.com reported after the event, UFC president Dana White hinted at Coleman's likely termination and predicted the Couture loss would be his final UFC appearance.
"I think tonight was probably Coleman's last fight in the UFC," White said. "I'm not taking anything away from Mark Coleman. I have nothing but respect for him, and I'll say this now, too: Mark Coleman has always been a stand-up guy to me.
"He'll always be a part of this organization. I just think he'll have a hard time competing with the guys at the top level. Age is a factor with him."
Coleman debuted for the organization in 1996 at UFC 10. The former collegiate wrestling champion introduced the mixed-martial-arts world to the ground-and-pound style that is required study in the modern version of the sport. He fought his first nine career contests in the UFC and defeated Dan Severn at UFC 12 to claim the first heavyweight title. He also won the UFC 10 and UFC 11 tourneys.
Coleman then took his services to Japan and made history as the winner of PRIDE's 2000 open weight grand prix.
It's unknown if Coleman will look to fight elsewhere or if he'll call it a career with his 16-10 record (and 7-5 mark in the UFC).
For complete coverage of UFC 109, check out the UFC Events section of MMAjunkie.com.
Fiveouncesofpain.com first reported the termination, which MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has since confirmed with a source close to the UFC.
Coleman, a former NCAA Division I national wrestling champion and the first-ever UFC heavyweight title-holder, went 1-2 in the UFC after coming out of retirement and rejoining the UFC in 2008.
On Feb. 6 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, he suffered a second-round submission loss to fellow ex-champ Randy Couture in the night's pay-per-view main event.
As MMAjunkie.com reported after the event, UFC president Dana White hinted at Coleman's likely termination and predicted the Couture loss would be his final UFC appearance.
"I think tonight was probably Coleman's last fight in the UFC," White said. "I'm not taking anything away from Mark Coleman. I have nothing but respect for him, and I'll say this now, too: Mark Coleman has always been a stand-up guy to me.
"He'll always be a part of this organization. I just think he'll have a hard time competing with the guys at the top level. Age is a factor with him."
Coleman debuted for the organization in 1996 at UFC 10. The former collegiate wrestling champion introduced the mixed-martial-arts world to the ground-and-pound style that is required study in the modern version of the sport. He fought his first nine career contests in the UFC and defeated Dan Severn at UFC 12 to claim the first heavyweight title. He also won the UFC 10 and UFC 11 tourneys.
Coleman then took his services to Japan and made history as the winner of PRIDE's 2000 open weight grand prix.
It's unknown if Coleman will look to fight elsewhere or if he'll call it a career with his 16-10 record (and 7-5 mark in the UFC).
For complete coverage of UFC 109, check out the UFC Events section of MMAjunkie.com.
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