"I'm excited about the possibility of returning to the Ultimate Fighting Championships ... I do prefer the cage."
First-ever UFC Heavyweight Champion and PRIDE FC Grand Prix Champion, Mark Coleman (15-8), uttered those words in a recent article from The News-Messenger regarding the recent sale of the largest mixed martial arts promotion in Japan to the Fertitta brothers.
At 43, the former NCAA collegiate wrestling champion and 1992 U.S. Olympian, is perhaps well beyond his prime. However, as a current fighter on the PRIDE FC roster, he still has the desire to compete once again under the UFC banner.
It seems like a stretch, considering UFC President Dana White has said he expects to put on the biggest fights in MMA history if and when the two promotions lock horns.
Put simply, Coleman doesn't fit the profile of a superstar who would be included in those types of events.
"The Hammer," in fact, is probably best known for the wrong reasons here in the states. His brutal knockout loss to Pete Williams at UFC 17 is a classic, making Rashad Evans' recent wipeout of Sean Salmon look like child's play.
And who can forget his celebration after winning the PRIDE FC 2000 Grand Prix, which saw him bust his ass attempting to leap on the top rope. Or, the post-fight drama — ripped right from a bad Hollywood script -- after losing to Fedor Emelianenko via armbar at PRIDE 32.
On second thought ... maybe it's not such a bad idea after all.
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