Mark Coleman is going to be OK.
The UFC Hall of Famer and former heavyweight champion issued a statement of gratitude through his daughter Kenzieâs Facebook on Friday after surviving a harrowing near-death experience while saving his parents from a house fire. Coleman had initially been intubated and sedated due to smoke inhalation that damaged his lungs, and early fears Tuesday morning were that the incident may be fatal, however the 59-year-old MMA pioneer overcame the odds to be alert, responsive, and breathing on his own by Thursday.
Colemanâs complete message can be read below.
> Mark the hammer Coleman here. I want to first thank my higher power above without him this isnât possible. Next I want to thank each and every one of you for the prayers, support, and generosity. I always knew I had the best fans around. What you have done for me and my family is truly remarkable. I also want to thank the doctors, nurses and hospital staff who saved my life. I canât wait to take you all along with me during my recovery journey. You are all now apart of hammer house.
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> Iâm blessed and grateful my parents and I are walking out of this alive. I encourage you to do the things you want to do, better yourself, and cherish every moment. Tomorrow is not promised. Also, it breaks my heart to say this but rest in peace to my special dog hammer. If you followed me before all of this you knew he was my sidekick and best friend. We spent every day together and I will miss him so much.
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> As alwaysâŚsober is cool, carnivore diet, 9 ancestral tenets. Hammer house if 4 life. Are you in now? Donât ever count the hammer out. I love you all
Coleman was awoken by his dog, Hammer, early Tuesday morning to find his parentsâ home engulfed in flames. The former UFC champion was able to rescue both of his parents from the burning building, however he succumbed to smoke inhalation after venturing back inside the property to save Hammer, and was subsequently life-flighted from the scene.
Tragically, Hammer did not survive.
Colemanâs two daughters, Kenzie and Morgan, launched a GoFundMe on their fatherâs behalf to help pay for medical costs as Coleman continues to recover from his injuries. That GoFundMe has thus far raised more than $111,000 of support for the ex-champ.
His dog deserves a spot in the goodest of boys hall of fame, who knows what the outcome would have been if not for Hammer.
Crazy story. Hope he makes full recovery. Loved that dude in early days. We nicknamed a wrestler buddy Hammer back in high school cuz his slight resemblance to Coleman.
Hammer time!
They all would be dead right now 100%.
Hammer sacrificed himself to save his best bud, and then Mark sacrificed himself to save them all, but unfortunately couldnât quite make it back to Hammer.
Fuck manâŚthat dog is definitely a hero, as is Mark. Really wish he couldâve made it out too. 
The dog woke up Mark, Mark grabbed his father and got him out to safety.
Mark then ran in and grabbed his mother and carried her to safety.
9 firemen then ran into the house and succumbed to the smoke, Mark then carried them out one at a time to safety.
Mark then smoked three joints and a cigarette, and went back in for the dog, he passed out because he was so highâŚ
I hope this clarifies things
Hammer saved their lives, while sacrificing his own.
He is among the elite of the Goodest Boys now.
This Man, hero and legend is indestructible! 
Freakin Nutz LOL
What local you out of?
That would be awesome!
Has anyone noticed if the UFC or Dana have made anykind of statement regarding Mark?
Would honestly be pretty fucked if they at least didnt sejd some well wishes. He IS one of their HoFers.
God damn fire cooked him.
Look at how tan he is in the month of March.
I dont really understand how the dog didnt make it out. He was conscious and woke Mark. Mark carried his dad out. Iâm sure Mark didnt close the door behind him when he went back in for mom.
it prob went to wake the mother and succumbed to the smoke?
We had a house fire when I was a kid. One of the dogs ran right outside. The other one hid and wedged herself under a dresser.
Maybe Hammer didnât know how to save himself.
That dude got banned?
He sent me some decent stuff for Christmas for some reason, a lot of off the wall shit, like blow up aliens and stuff youâd find at Spencerâs. Decent of him.
But when I searched the sender address, turns out he owns, or has part ownership in a gay bar in Tampa called Bradleyâs while saying heâs operating in different countries around the world.
I do believe he has a stake in that gay bar though to be using it as an origination address, or he could have just done it for shits and giggles.
Meanwhile the dude is posting all kinds of crazy stuff about gay folks.
Kinda weird.
i dont care if he swallows Penis or makes money doing what he loves. Dont say Post Hammer died when the UG is on pins and needles and post fake news , NOT Kewl