A lifetime competing in wrestling and MMA has made everyday life for Mark Coleman a struggle.
The Godfather of ground-and-pound is battling both hip and money issues, and as he awaits another hip-replacement surgery (being delayed due to a massive infection), he's raised more than $45,000 through a GoFundMe page set up by friend and fellow UFC veteran Wes Sims.
"I got a hip replacement surgery two years ago, it felt great, but some things went wrong down the line, it popped out 5-6 times after I did The Ultimate Fighter show," Coleman told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, according to MMAFighting.com's Dave Doyle. "It was fine there and that was a great experience, but when I got back home, basically it was just popping out once a freaking week. ... I'm basically walking around scared to bend over, scared to do anything because of this thing. I finally get into the surgeon, and he decided he was going to not replace the whole hip that he did two years ago, he's going to replace the socket, bigger ball and socket."
Coleman's biggest financial supporter is UFC heavyweight contender Mark Hunt, who pledged $5,000 to his fellow former PRIDE competitor on the crowd-funding website.
"Mark Hunt, man, I love the guy," Coleman said. "I met him probably 4-5 times in Japan, just always happy, smiley, back then he had a nice big belly, that's why he was happy and smiley. He'd still knock you out."
Humbled by the overwhelming support, Coleman isn't too proud to accept the help, he just hopes to someday be able repay the kindness he's been shown.
"I don't like to be in this position," he said. "But I put myself in this position and that's a fact. I made some good money, but made some mistakes and put myself in this position. I didn't know it was going to be set up, but at that point, I'm in no position to say I don't want it. Proud man? I don't care. I'm grateful, thank you, maybe somehow I can return the favor to all these people, every one of them."
