Four days after he lost to Randy Couture at UFC 109, Mark Coleman told MMAFighting.com on Wednesday that he's not sure whether the UFC has decided to cut him from its roster. But Coleman knows he wants another shot inside the Octagon, and he said he has definitely not retired.
"I'm not sure," Coleman said when asked if the UFC has released him. "I really don't want to comment on that right now until I know the situation."
Although Five Ounces of Pain reported on Wednesday that Coleman has been released from the promotion, Coleman said he hasn't talked with UFC President Dana White, UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta or anyone else at the UFC about what his future with the promotion might be.
And Coleman said he thinks he has a lot more fight in him. Coleman said he'd be particularly interested in staying in the UFC to get a shot at Tito Ortiz, who insulted him following his loss to Couture, and that even if he doesn't get that fight, he'll fight someone just as soon as he can.
"I'm definitely going to keep fighting," Coleman said. "I'm still trying to figure out what's going on. I want to fight in the UFC. I want to beat Tito Ortiz -- bad -- but really I just want to fight in the UFC."
If the UFC isn't an option for Coleman, other promotions might be. In Japan, Dream is planning a light heavyweight tournament this year, and Coleman -- who's popular in Japan from his days fighting in Pride -- would be a natural fit for that tournament. Coleman would likely also draw interest from Strikeforce, or from a smaller promotion that would see value in bringing a well-known fighter like Coleman on board.
"I'm healthy," Coleman said. "I'm really just very disappointed and I feel like I can do better. I have a lot I need to work on."
Even at age 45, Coleman sounds like a man who believes he has a few more good fights left in his career.
"I just need to train harder," Coleman said. "I need to work harder."
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"I'm not sure," Coleman said when asked if the UFC has released him. "I really don't want to comment on that right now until I know the situation."
Although Five Ounces of Pain reported on Wednesday that Coleman has been released from the promotion, Coleman said he hasn't talked with UFC President Dana White, UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta or anyone else at the UFC about what his future with the promotion might be.
And Coleman said he thinks he has a lot more fight in him. Coleman said he'd be particularly interested in staying in the UFC to get a shot at Tito Ortiz, who insulted him following his loss to Couture, and that even if he doesn't get that fight, he'll fight someone just as soon as he can.
"I'm definitely going to keep fighting," Coleman said. "I'm still trying to figure out what's going on. I want to fight in the UFC. I want to beat Tito Ortiz -- bad -- but really I just want to fight in the UFC."
If the UFC isn't an option for Coleman, other promotions might be. In Japan, Dream is planning a light heavyweight tournament this year, and Coleman -- who's popular in Japan from his days fighting in Pride -- would be a natural fit for that tournament. Coleman would likely also draw interest from Strikeforce, or from a smaller promotion that would see value in bringing a well-known fighter like Coleman on board.
"I'm healthy," Coleman said. "I'm really just very disappointed and I feel like I can do better. I have a lot I need to work on."
Even at age 45, Coleman sounds like a man who believes he has a few more good fights left in his career.
"I just need to train harder," Coleman said. "I need to work harder."
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