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Ex-OSU wrestler, UFC boss disagree on future

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By Dann Stupp, Contributing Writer 7:44 PM Sunday, February 7, 2010

Mark Coleman’s future in the Ultimate Fighting Championship appears uncertain; following a loss to Randy Couture at this past weekend’s UFC 109 event, the 45-year-old Coleman said he’s not ready to call it quits.

But UFC president Dana White said it may be time for the former Ohio State national wrestling champion to call it a career.

Each weighed in on the fighter’s future following Coleman’s second-round submission loss to 46-year-old Couture in the main event of “UFC 109: Relentless.” The event took place Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

Coleman hoped to build off the momentum of a July upset of Stephan Bonnar. But Couture, again defying Father Time, dominated all aspects of the light-heavyweight bout and secured the fight-ending rear-naked choke a minute into the second round.

“I don’t know what the hell happened,” said a dejected Coleman, who still lives in Columbus. “I’m disappointed. I think I can do better.

“I’m not quitting. I’ll be back. ... I just need to train harder.”

White, though, wasn’t as optimistic. When the UFC inducted Coleman into its hall of fame in 2008, White agreed to give Coleman one more go-’round in the octagon. Coleman then faltered in a loss to “Shogun” Rua but rebounded for the upset of Bonnar. However, recent injuries and the Couture performance could mark the end of the first-ever UFC heavyweight champion’s latest run.

“I think (this) was probably Coleman’s last fight in the UFC,” White said. “I have nothing but respect for him. I’ll say this now, too: Mark has always been a stand-up guy.

“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.”

Regardless of what happens, Coleman (16-10) has already cemented his place in the sport’s history as the first fighter successfully to implement the “ground and pound” fighting style that brought many collegiate wrestlers into the sport in the 1990s.

Kimbo returns at UFC 113

Former underground bareknuckle brawler Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson returns to action May 8 at UFC 113.

Ferguson helped the UFC and Spike TV garner record ratings when he appeared on the 10th season of the reality series, “The Ultimate Fighter,” in 2009. Eventual show champion Roy Nelson defeated Ferguson in the first round of the 16-man tournament, but producers continually teased “Kimbo’s” possible return as an injury replacement to keep ratings strong.

Ferguson (4-1) meets fellow “TUF 10” fighter/former NFL defensive tackle Matt Mitrione (1-0) at UFC 113, which airs on pay-per-view from Montreal’s Bell Centre.

Dann Stupp is editor-in-chief of MMAjunkie.com, voted best media outlet in the 2008 and 2009 World MMA Awards. For the latest mixed-martial-arts news, go to MMAjunkie.com.

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