5. Mark Coleman
Coleman’s nicknames speak volumes about him: “The Godfather of Ground-and-Pound” and “The Hammer.” An NCAA wrestling champion at Ohio State University, he represented the United States at the 1992 Summer Olympics before turning his focus to mixed martial arts. Coleman brought a new dimension to the sport, as he took down opponents and tore them to shreds. The Fremont, Ohio, native debuted on July 12, 1996, blew through his first six fights and won tournaments at UFC 10 and UFC 11. Coleman became the first Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight titleholder when he submitted Dan Severn with a neck crank at UFC 12, and though his reign was brief at just 170 days, his place in MMA history was secure. He was granted entry to the UFC Hall of Fame on March 1, 2008.
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