Mark Coleman was tonight inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame as expected at UFC 82: "Pride of a Champion" at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Unexpectedly, he announced that he will not retire and he will fight Brock Lesnar in August in Minnesota.
That's not a typo.
Coleman—the first - ever UFC heavyweight champion — will return to the Octagon for the first time since 1999. He had a semi-successful run in the Pride FC organization, with the highlight of his work overseas being the champion of the first-ever open weight grand prix in 2000.
Since that time, however, the 43-year-old has compiled an average record (4-4), taking on some of the best competitors in the division such as Fedor Emelianenko (two losses), Mirko Cro Cop (loss) and Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira (loss).
Coleman — the "Godfather" of the ground and pound — is a collegiate national wrestling champion for THE Ohio State University and competed in the Olympics in 1992. He'll put his ground skills to the test against another collegiate wrestling champion in Lesnar.
Lesnar dropped his highly anticipated Octagon debut at UFC 81: "Breaking Point," losing to former heavyweight champion Frank Mir via submission (kneebar) in round one. He's also a former WWE wrestling superstar who is extremely marketable, especially in front of his hometown crowd in Minnesota.
This is definitely a big test for each fighter — both want to prove that they belong in the UFC. And the two will have five months to prepare for the showdown.
When the bout takes place it will mark the first time ever the UFC has staged an event in the "North Star State."
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