Kevin Christopher Randleman was an American mixed martial artist, professional wrestler, and former UFC Heavyweight Champion.
59 Facts About Kevin Randleman
2.
Kevin Randleman competed in the heavyweight and light heavyweight classes in MMA.
3.
Kevin Randleman was previously associated with Mark Coleman's Team Hammer House, before training at Randy Couture's gym in Las Vegas, Nevada.
4.
On May 16,2020, the UFC announced that Kevin Randleman would be inducted into the pioneer wing of the UFC Hall of Fame.
5.
Kevin Randleman is the first fighter to be posthumously inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
6.
Kevin Randleman was from Sandusky, Ohio, and was one of eleven children.
7.
Kevin Randleman grew up without a lot of money, and often got into street fights growing up.
8.
Kevin Randleman then went undefeated during his sophomore year, and won the NCAA tournament.
9.
Kevin Randleman again won the NCAA tournament in his junior year, despite having his jaw dislocated during the actual tournament.
10.
However in 2002 Kevin Randleman was nominated as the Ohio State University Wrestler of the Century.
11.
Kevin Randleman supported the United States Army troops whenever he could.
12.
Kevin Randleman quickly got down on the mats and gave an impromptu ground demonstration.
13.
Kevin Randleman eagerly posed for pictures and signed autographs for anyone who asked.
14.
Kevin Randleman entered mixed martial arts in 1996 when Mark Coleman, one of Kevin Randleman's coaches at Ohio State, offered him a spot in the Universal Vale Tudo Fighting 4 in Brazil.
15.
Kevin Randleman accepted and joined Coleman in what would be known as Team Hammer House.
16.
Kevin Randleman reached the finals, where he encountered Dan Severn's trainee Dan Bobish.
17.
In March 1997, Kevin Randleman returned to the promotion for UVF 6, in finding a difficult opponent in the first round in luta livre veteran Ebenezer Fontes Braga.
18.
The American controlled the takedowns, but the Brazilian defended solidly with strikes both standing and from his guard every time, with Kevin Randleman attempting to sneak in ground and pound through the latter.
19.
The Brazilian remained on the ground, where Kevin Randleman attacked with ground and pound, but fatigue eventually caught with him, and Barreto was finally capable to lock a triangle choke for the win.
20.
Kevin Randleman beat Gustavo Homem de Neve in under two minutes, but he was then pitted against another decorated American wrestler, RAW team member Tom Erikson.
21.
Kevin Randleman attempted to push the 50 pounds heavier Erikson into the fence, but he was caught with a right hook, and then Erikson unloaded a series of big shots for the knock out.
22.
Kevin Randleman claimed he had befriended Erikson before the match and it was difficult for him to fight him.
23.
Kevin Randleman fought in the UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions at UFC 19, UFC 20, UFC 23, UFC 26, UFC 28, UFC 31, and UFC 35.
24.
Kevin Randleman lost via a decision to Rutten, even though Kevin Randleman maintained positional superiority with takedowns, it was judged that Rutten was the more active fighter with strikes.
25.
Kevin Randleman achieved his goal to become the UFC Heavyweight Champion on November 19,1999, beating Pete Williams at UFC 23 for the title which was vacated upon Rutten's retirement.
26.
Kevin Randleman's fight, scheduled with Pedro Rizzo, ended up taking place at UFC 26, Randleman won via unanimous decision.
27.
On September 29,2002, Kevin Randleman made his debut in Pride Fighting Championships, taking on Japanese wrestler Michiyoshi Ohara.
28.
At Pride 25, Kevin Randleman faced another Middleweight contender, fellow American wrestler Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, in a match that determined the number one contender for Silva's belt.
29.
Kevin Randleman faced Kazushi Sakuraba for his last match in 2003.
30.
Just three months before the fight with Sakuraba, Kevin Randleman was involved in a severe car accident in which he seized while driving his SUV.
31.
Kevin Randleman hit a truck and was almost decapitated, but survived with a horrible head wound that required 180 stitches.
32.
Kevin Randleman lost the fight to Sakuraba via a third-round armbar submission.
33.
Kevin Randleman became one of the sixteen participants in the PRIDE 2004 Heavyweight Tournament, alongside teammate Mark Coleman.
34.
Kevin Randleman knocked out Cro Cop by ground and pound following a left hook that surprised and knocked him down.
35.
Kevin Randleman picked up and slammed much bigger Waterman, and was ahead on the scorecards but made one mistake and lost by americana in the first round.
36.
At PRIDE Shockwave 2004 Kevin Randleman offered a rematch to Mirko Cro Cop.
37.
In November 2005, Kevin Randleman appeared in Bushido Europe: Rotterdam Rumble, Europe's first Bushido event, and defeated Fatih Kocamis via decision, ending his losing streak, and giving him his first win in nearly a year.
38.
Kevin Randleman was taken ill with a serious fungal lung infection after his Rotterdam bout that had unknowingly been present for sometime.
39.
Kevin Randleman underwent a successful surgery to have the infection removed.
40.
Kevin Randleman returned to PRIDE for their first show on American soil, Pride 32: The Real Deal on October 21,2006, where he was quickly submitted with a toe hold in the first round by 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix Champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.
41.
Kevin Randleman submitted a urine sample lacking any hormones to the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
42.
On January 19,2007, Kevin Randleman was hospitalized due to serious damage to his kidneys.
43.
Kevin Randleman was able to reapply for a license after October 21,2007, a year from the date of his loss to Mauricio Rua.
44.
In 2007, Kevin Randleman was sidelined for more than a year when a staph infection under his arm leaked into his bloodstream.
45.
Kevin Randleman's next fight was scheduled to be on June 21,2008, against Jeff Monson at the Godz of War; however, Kevin Randleman injured his shoulder while training.
46.
On November 7,2009, Kevin Randleman fought Bulgarian prospect Stanislav Nedkov at Sengoku 11.
47.
Kevin Randleman started the fight with a good left leg kick and takedown.
48.
Kevin Randleman used elevators and reversals to avoid damage from Nedkov, when Nedkov made a few takedowns.
49.
Kevin Randleman looked to grapple immediately in the fight, whilst Whitehead controlled the fight on the feet.
50.
Whitehead won the first two rounds using takedowns but Kevin Randleman employed the use of reversals very competently to avoid significant damage.
51.
Kevin Randleman charged in to finish Whitehead and landed a few shots to Whitehead's head, but was unable to capitalize effectively on the knock-down.
52.
Kevin Randleman lost to Strikeforce newcomer Roger Gracie via a rear-naked choke submission in the second round of their light heavyweight bout on May 15,2010, at Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery.
53.
Kevin Randleman debuted in professional wrestling in 2002 as part of All Japan Pro Wrestling's Wrestle-1 project, which brought several mixed martial artists and kickboxers to take part in wrestling matches.
54.
In July 2003, Kevin Randleman started working for Pro Wrestling Zero-One, teaming up with The Predator to take part in the OH Tag Festival tournament.
55.
The next year, Kevin Randleman started appearing in Zero-One's partner promotion Hustle.
56.
In September 2007, Kevin Randleman made his last appearance in Hustle, defeating Kohei Sato and Piranha Monster alongside Coleman.
57.
Kevin Randleman married his longtime girlfriend and publicist, Elizabeth Broglia, on April 25,2009.
58.
Kevin Randleman had four children: Calvin, Jasmine, Madolyn, and Santino.
59.
Kevin Randleman died while traveling for business on February 11,2016; complications of pneumonia were the cause of death.