The UFC inducted Mark "The Hammer" Coleman into the UFC Hall of Fame on Saturday night, but perhaps more stunning was Coleman's announcement that he is not done fighting.
"This is an unbelievably special night," said Coleman. "But my main goal is to get back in the cage and fight. I'm not retired. I am not retired... I've been asking (UFC president) Dana (White) for a long time," he continued. "He finally found me an opponent. He gave me five month's notice... Brock Lesnar."
Recent speculation had indicated that Brock Lesnar would be facing a TBA (to be announced) opponent at a UFC event in August. So now it is no longer a question, Lesnar will face Coleman in the older wrestler's return to the Octagon at UFC 82 on August 9th.
UFC 87 will take place in Lesnar's hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota and the bout will be the first of a four-fight deal Coleman signed in his own hometown of Columbus, Ohio, shortly before UFC 82 on Saturday.
"I'm gonna dedicate my life to this," said Coleman during the UFC 82 pay-per-view broadcast. "The fans want to see me. I'm going to pay my dues. I'm going to do the best I can. "He's a beast. He's an animal," said Coleman of the man who will welcome him back to the UFC.
Despite cementing his past legacy with his induction into the Hall of Fame, Coleman isn't ready to be written off just yet. Lesnar is a strong, athletic, younger fighter, but Coleman stressed that he shouldn't be underestimated in this fight.
"Don't bet the house against me. I'm going to bring something for Brock Lesnar," said the first ever UFC heavyweight champion and first ever Pride Grand Prix champion.
Coleman (15-8) has not fought in the UFC since losing to Pedro Rizzo at UFC 18 in January of 1999. Lesnar (1-1) made his UFC debut on February 2nd in a losing effort via kneebar to another former UFC heavyweight champ in Frank Mir.