The journey to the top is not always a straight road, and Ronald Coleman is well aware of that. The four-time high school state champion wrestler in Nebraska, one of the best wrestling states in the country, has not had a straight shot to a CFFC heavyweight title shot. Coleman stopped wrestling to pursue playing college football at Southeast Missouri State instead. After settling down after school with a job he was passionate about, a college degree, and a family, there was one thing he missed: competing.
“I had a great career, a great job,” Coleman said. “I had my master’s degree in psychology, working in the school system as a school counselor, but I just wanted to compete, and that’s when I got a hold of my coach, and now we are 3-0 as a pro fighting for the CFFC title.”
Coleman made his professional debut on April 8, 2022, and came away with a knockout win in the first 37 seconds of the first round. Despite being a distinguished wrestler, all three of Coleman’s wins have come by way of knockout or TKO, with none seeing past the end of the first round. In his last fight back in October of 2022, Coleman had his longest fight to date as a pro, lasting just 1:03 in the first round before winning by TKO. Wrestling may be his specialty, but the 30-year-old challenger doesn’t want to be a one-trick pony.
“I’m really confident in my striking, I’m really confident in my wrestling, I’m really confident in my jiu-jitsu,” Coleman said. “Now it is all about making it one art and I am excited to be able to display that.
Now the journey has led Coleman here to a shot at CFFC gold. On Friday night at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Coleman (3-0) will face off against CFFC heavyweight champion Greg Velasco (5-0) in the co-main event of CFFC 117 for the belt, where the action will stream live on UFC Fight Pass.
Despite making his CFFC debut against the undisputed champion, and fellow undefeated professional, Coleman does not feel any pressure heading into his biggest fight yet.
“It is no disrespect to him or the organization, but I have just competed my whole life,” Coleman said. “The competition and the competing, itself, is not what gives me nerves. I’m alerted and I’m aware, and I know this is going to be a dogfight, and I am looking forward to it.”
Both Coleman and Velasco come into this fight with similar styles. They both have strong wrestling backgrounds, as well as the power to end the fight in one punch. In his last fight for the vacant CFFC heavyweight belt, Velasco went all four rounds on the way to his championship victory, something Coleman has not faced before.
Even with none of his fights exiting the first round, cardio is the least of Coleman’s worries for Friday night, and he is prepared to go a full 25 minutes, if necessary.
“I feel great,” Coleman said. “Although all my fights have been quick, I don’t train for quick. This is just kind of how it has happened. My cardio is fine, and I am ready to see where it goes. Whether it is the first or the fifth, I am well prepared. I’m looking forward to pushing myself and keeping the pace high.”
A win Friday night will give Coleman the CFFC belt around his waist and will get him one step closer to his ultimate goal. While the chance to reach the next level is on the mind of every fighter, the challenger is ready to just see where this journey takes him.
“I’m just led by whatever God presents to me,” Coleman said. “Whatever opportunity presents itself I’ll be more than thankful. If I get a big call that’ll be the next step, but more than anything, we’ll pray about it and see where the Lord takes us.”
The future looms large, but focusing on the now, this fight is a gigantic one. Even with how big the moment is, Coleman is excited, prepared, and most importantly, ready to hold the belt.
“I’m not one of those guys who makes the moment big, because the moment is going to be big, regardless,” Coleman said. “I’m very excited about this opportunity, and it is just a huge blessing to fight for the title, and after Friday, if all goes well, I’ll represent the title.”
This story first published at CFFC.tv.
