Mark Coleman if nothing else helped supply mixed martial arts with one of its cornerstone techniques: ground-and-pound.
The man affectionately known as “The Hammer” set his sights on MMA after he represented the United States in freestyle wrestling at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, where he placed seventh in the 100-kilogram draw. Coleman made his professional debut under the Ultimate Fighting Championship banner on July 12, 1996, rattled off six consecutive victories across three events and became the first fighter to capture the undisputed UFC heavyweight crown. He later plied his trade in Pride Fighting Championships with wide-ranging results—depressing lows were mixed with euphoric highs—before he returned to the Octagon to close out his career where it began.