Issue 203
March 2024
Fighters Only’s social media editor, Ryan Burnyeat, picks out his highlights from the past month on MMA social media.
1. A real-life superhero – UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman was involved in a house fire where he saved both of his parents
https://www.instagram.com/p/C4i55VdJiHY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==)
Mark Coleman’s dog, Hammer, alerted the UFC legend that the house was on fire. Mark was then able to pick up and carry his parents one by one out of the house to safety. When he went back in to find the family pet, however, Mark collapsed due to smoke inhalation and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Sadly, Hammer never made it out of the house.
Following a couple of days of treatment and rest in hospital, Mark called himself "the happiest man in the world" as he embraced members of his family and later put up a social post to address the horrific event.
“Mark the hammer Coleman here. I want to first thank my higher power above without him, this isn’t 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 can’t wait to take you all along with me during my recovery journey. You are all now apart of hammer house. I’m 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. As always…sober is cool, carnivore diet, 9 ancestral tenets. Hammer house is 4 life. Are you in now? Dont ever count the hammer out. I love you all.”
2. Jon Jones becomes the youngest-ever UFC champion
https://twitter.com/ufc/status/1770200062511190181
OTD (March 19th, 2011) - Jon Jones defeats Shogun Rua via KO/TKO to claim the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship and become the youngest champion in the history of the UFC.
It was a spectacle of a performance from the then-young Jon Jones. At just 23 years old, he dominated the well-respected Shogun Rua and laid the groundwork for what you could expect from him in future years. This video marks the start of one of the greatest title reigns in the history of MMA, and Jones had only been in title fights since that day.
3. The King of Rio returns - Jose Aldo is set to return to the Octagon at UFC 301 to face undefeated prospect Jonathan Martinez
https://twitter.com/josealdojunior/status/1770511242349744308
After 18 months on the sidelines, the legendary UFC bantamweight, Jose Aldo announces that he will return to the Octagon at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro.
“You were right:
The King of Rio is Back! ????”
4. The internet remains undefeated – an MMA fighter suffers a brutal KO, but this edit somehow feels worse!
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C45ZTJdRp-D/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
This video edit that switches an MMA fighter to a Go Karter has amassed over 3.3m likes on Instagram and has been doing the rounds on all other social platforms.
“He had enough.
Not a usual fight highlight, but the kind of moment that’ll make you smile!”
5. That’s a bit much—Andre Lima gets bitten by his opponent in his UFC Vegas 89 bout and decides to get the bite mark tattooed on him.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C44iHgptmgN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
You don’t see this often in MMA, let alone the UFC. Both fighters were making their UFC debuts at the Fight Night event on March 23rd when Igor Severino decided to try and take a chunk out of Lima’s triceps.
Severino has since been released from the promotion, losing the most significant opportunity of his fighting career and potentially having the shortest career in UFC history, which lasted just one and a half rounds.
After the incident, Andre Lima took to his Instagram account to share his new tattoo.
“It was so insane I had to make it permanent! A debut to remember! Thanks boss @danawhite! Ready for many more!”
