Former UFC heavyweight champion Mark Coleman is awake and responsive in hospital after saving his parents from a house fire.

Coleman, 59, carried his parents to safety but was unable to rescue his dog, Hammer, before collapsing with smoke inhalation, his family confirmed.

In a reel posted on his Facebook account,, external Coleman can be seen sitting up and talking in a hospital bed.

“I’m the happiest man in the world,” Coleman said.

“Sweet God, I’m so lucky. I can’t believe my parents are alive.

“I had to make a decision because I got out of my room and went to the door and it was already horrible. I couldn’t breathe. I almost had to go outside and I went back in and got them. I can’t believe I got them but I couldn’t find Hammer.”

Coleman beat Dan Severn to become the UFC’s first heavyweight champion in 1997 and he was the fifth fighter to be inducted in the UFC Hall of Fame in 2008.

The American retired in 2013 with 16 wins from 26 fights during a 14-year professional career.