'Daddy's OK, it's all over'

[( o Y o )]

Ignoring the post-fight question posed by the public address interviewer, Mark Coleman grabbed the microphone and yelled "I love you girls! I'll be back," while jabbing a massive hand toward his daughters in the audience.

Moments before, nearly 12,000 people watched as the Pride Fighting Championships heavyweight was beaten into submission by a Russian giant when he found himself trapped an excruciating hold called an armbar. Two of those 12,000 saw something entirely different: Their daddy got hurt.

To calm the tears and fears of his daughters, the bloodied Coleman embraced his daughters while caressing their hair and repeating over and over that "Daddy's OK. Daddy's OK," after they were lifted up to the ring and into his waiting arms.

When his repeated reassurance that "Daddy's OK, it's all over. It's all over. Daddy's OK. Let's go have some fun now," failed to completely calm the girls, Coleman took them to center ring and introduced them to Fedor Emelianenko, the man who turned his face into a bloody pulp



The rest is here http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/births/2006/oct/24/566666228.html and here http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/births_cut/2006/oct/24/c00008910.html

http://www.lasvegassun.com/from.ed/2006/oct/24/photos/P000081835.jpg

[heckyl]

the man that beat his face into a bloody pulp. awesome. i was very uncomfortable during that whole thing.

[( o Y o )]

so was I....on the one hand I thought he was a moron for bringing his kids to the fight....on the other I was glad the first thing he wanted to do post beating was to comfort them.

[Shinobu]

So Fedor is a Russian Giant, huh? I allways thought he was pretty small :).
As for his girls I hope they are allright, this can leave you quite puzzled I guess-being just kids and all.

[seese]

First time Fedor has been puzzled inside the ring

[bero]

Coleman is a moron. He knew Fedor will kill him and he brought his two kids to watch it.
What's he gonna do next, bring his grandma in a wheelchair?

[Sixtus]

At the start of the fight Trigg said that they were taken backstage. In the post fight press conference Baroni talked about what Coleman was doing and such. Kind of an uncomfortable moment though..

[RedHawk]

Boxers parents sometimes refuse to watch their kids fight. Because they cant stand to watch the kids get hit/hurt. Which is perfectly understandable.


Pro fighters should give the same respect to their children. Nobody wants to see their loved one take a beating.

[Shinbone]

I think it is pretty stupid to have your kids watching you fighting in a ring.
What a bad dad.

It's the same as telling your kids to walk when the light turns red by a traffic light. Unresponsable!

[TheDude]

I guess it was just a marketing angle they tried to play. Worked in a way, since it caused a lot of talk, but still I wishthey wouldn't use the ROCKY-movies for inspiration.

edit: Rocky...Rambo.

[Shinbone]

Yeah, but marketing over the backs of children goes to far in my humble opinion.

[FieldingMellish]

While I felt really uneasy watching this it could have been far worse. There's a very uncomfortable scene in the excellent pro wrestling documentary 'Beyond the Mat' where Mick Foley is taking a hellish beating with some totally unprotected chairshots to the head. He's handcuffed by the way and takes 10 or 12 of them while his kids are at ringside. You can criticise Coleman all you like but Foley's wife was sat there with the kids, screeching and crying hysterically. This of course made them even more upset when she, as a mother, should have reassured them daddy was fine and this was just play-acting. At least Coleman's kids didn't witness the slaughter with a hysterical mother.

But there's no way they should have been brought out with their dad's face mashed up like that. If he was unmarked then I'm sure there wouldn't have been a problem.

Felt really sorry for the kids but also for Fedor partly as he looked SOOOO uncomfortable and partly as those kids will now probably go and learn voodoo and start sticking pins in official Pride merchandise. If they put em in his hand he's fucked forever.

One last note. I was listening to a radio show where somebody there at the live show was interviewed. when they showed the Coleman pre-fight package where both girls shouted "Daddy" when asked who'd win, some clown stood up and shouted "YOUR KIDS ARE WRONG!!!"

[migs]

I felt like I was violating someone somehow when I watched that. I was kind of turning my head uncomfortably.

It was wierd but sad too. Stupid of the crews that followed the whole thing and stupid of Coleman to play along...sick somehow. I wonder if his head is on straight sometimes.

Fedor was probably pissed off about that shit too. I would be. It was beyond unprofessional and he shouldn't have to put up with that.

[( o Y o )]

He knew Fedor will kill him

I think he genuinely thought he would win it, you know.

[heckyl]

i dont think he knew Fedor would kill him. he didnt go into that fight expecting to lose. nobody does, unless you are Shannon Ritch.

[( o Y o )]

There's a very uncomfortable scene in the excellent pro wrestling documentary 'Beyond the Mat' where Mick Foley is taking a hellish beating with some totally unprotected chairshots to the head. He's handcuffed by the way and takes 10 or 12 of them while his kids are at ringside. You can criticise Coleman all you like but Foley's wife was sat there with the kids, screeching and crying hysterically. This of course made them even more upset when she, as a mother, should have reassured them daddy was fine and this was just play-acting.

I've seen that and it really was tough to watch.

[THE BOSS]

If I had kids, and when the thought of me fighting was brought up, if there was any question in the kids eyes I wouldn't let them watch. As for parents watching, my mom comes to my fights, but watches with her hand over her face.

[Cracked_Knuckle]

That was a interesting feeling watching it unfold. I don wanna see it ever happen again though.

[Eric Persson]

The kids never saw the fight and you should be more concerned about your own lives.

[( o Y o )]

and you should be more concerned about your own lives.

if not here to discuss all areas of MMA, what would be the purpose? I am sure there are self-help related forums out there too for people that would prefer them.

[Eric Persson]

All areas of MMA does not include raising children.

[( o Y o )]

sorry, but if he choses to bring them into the ring during a PPV, he makes the choice to make something very private, public. He and Baroni are able to defend their own choice to do so and have done so publically too, so I don't know why it cannot be discussed.

I haven't read anyone saying he is a terrible father, blah blah blah. Some don't think it was a smart move, just as most of us think it was a fucking stupid move for Rampage to have been proposing to his woman on the phone while in the ring about to face Silva for the second time. He also did it on a ppv though so it got discussed. Not that any of us are marriage counselors

[Sixtus]

I think Coleman had good intentions but the beating plus being emotional led to poor judgment. I do think its getting blown out of proportion. If you listen to what Baroni said and think things over it comes off quite innocent. People shouldn’t be so harsh on Coleman, I don’t expect it to happen again.

[( o Y o )]

^^ agreed.

[Lord Gaul]

so was I....on the one hand I thought he was a moron for bringing his kids to the fight....on the other I was glad the first thing he wanted to do post beating was to comfort them.
Exaclty, I know I am late to this topic, but it makes no since for him to bring his children to a fight that he had to know wouldn't have been a walk in the park if he had one. I just don't get why he would do that.

[migs]

Exaclty, I know I am late to this topic, but it makes no since for him to bring his children to a fight that he had to know wouldn't have been a walk in the park if he had one. I just don't get why he would do that.

Yeah and that's an understatement. I think Coleman (and Randleman) are just their for the paychecks lately and know when they are there to lose.

Coleman was well aware that a win would have been a miracle. He was probably happy with his performance and his state of health afterwards.

[Kayo]

I guess it was just a marketing angle they tried to play. Worked in a way, since it caused a lot of talk, but still I wishthey wouldn't use the ROCKY-movies for inspiration.

edit: Rocky...Rambo.

I was thinking the same thing.

I thought it was a little funny when Coleman said "Daddy's ok, man!" don't know why I thought that was funny. But when I saw the children crying that was really sad and then Coleman comforting them was a "moment" I guess.

[ArtOfWar]

My kid is only 4 and he already wants to beat his 'Young' old man up. No frigging way am I taking him to see a fight where he finds out how easy it can be.

Nah, everyone raises their children differently. Personally the incident left a very bad taste in my my mouth and heart; I would not do it. I feel sorry for the girls though. This will remain in their thoughts and memories for months if not years to come. Hope they are able to take it in the positive spirit - you win some and you lose some.

[Mago]

Maybe this will sound ignorant considering all the sentimental issues going on here, but putting all other thoughts aside, isn't (or shouldn't) MMA events be restricted to older public, just like violent movies are restricted in cinemas? Because if so, I don't see how fighters could bring their children to the fights..? And this has happened a lot of times before, Hoost and LeBanner for example have brought their kids to watch their matches...

[Titan]

Maybe this will sound ignorant considering all the sentimental issues going on here, but putting all other thoughts aside, isn't (or shouldn't) MMA events be restricted to older public, just like violent movies are restricted in cinemas?

Good question!

[Titan]

And, my sentimental opinion is I think there´s better ways to introduce your daughters to your profession than taking them to see you fight with predictable outcome against the undefeated Pride heavyweight champion.

[TheDude]

Talk about a career day...

[seese]

Maybe this will sound ignorant considering all the sentimental issues going on here, but putting all other thoughts aside, isn't (or shouldn't) MMA events be restricted to older public, just like violent movies are restricted in cinemas? Because if so, I don't see how fighters could bring their children to the fights..? And this has happened a lot of times before, Hoost and LeBanner for example have brought their kids to watch their matches...

We have aa 18 year age limit for the K-1 Scandinavias.

[Desdichado]

We have aa 18 year age limit for the K-1 Scandinavias.

That's correct. However, as I understand it, that's not K-1's decision, but rather something that Globen (the venue) wanted. I'm not sure if there was an age limit for the EVT MMA event in Solnahallen a week ago.

Regarding Coleman, I felt very uncomfortable watching that scene, and actually fast-forwarded through it. I think it's really irresponsible to bring your children to watch their father get beat up like that.

[kainer2]

One of the worse memories i have of a Cage Warriors show is seeing Dave Elliot's son (Who trained in BJJ dispite being fairly young) disraught after watching his Dad lay on the mat after tapping out to the 1st MMA twister against Gerald Strebendt. But it was reassursing to see Strebendt see how upset the kid was and he talked to him whilst Dave was getting treatment. Which made him a true gent in my book.

The other was at Cage Warriors Strike Force 6 went Neil McLeod's 2 young children were near truamatised after watching their Dad get beat by Paul McVeigh. In that fight McVeigh landed numerous elbows which spilt McLoed face open and caused him to bleed a lot. I was backstage working after their fight trying to help calm down his wife and missues who were were a mess whilst Neil was getting stiched up.

Very very messy ! Although i dont see noting wrong in kids going to shows as long as they are safe (We had a 6 year old sat on a VIP table at our last show and he loved it). Parents (especally if they fight) do need to think about it the potential consquences.