Kevin Randleman, the former UFC heavyweight champion and Pride FC and Strikeforce veteran, passed away today due to heart failure after being admitted to the hospital with pneumonia, he was 44.
Randleman got his start in MMA after being introduced to the sport by former UFC heavyweight champion, Mark Coleman, who was one of his wrestling coaches at Ohio State. He made his MMA debut against Luiz Carlos Macial in 1996, during a Vale Tudo tournament. Much like the old days of the UFC, Randleman had to win three bouts in one night to win the tournament. He accomplished this, defeating Macial, Geza Kalman and Dan Bobish all in the first round.
Three years later, Randleman would make his debut in the UFC against Maurice Smith (who had previously lost the UFC championship to Randy Couture in his last fight) in Bay St. Louis Mississippi at UFC 19. Randleman upset the former champion, beating him by unanimous decision and earning a title shot in his next match. That match would be against Bas Rutten for the vacant heavyweight championship in one of the most heavily debated fights in UFC history. Randleman lost the fight to Rutten by split decision, but wouldn’t be down for long, after Rutten relinquished the title and retired soon after their fight due to lingering injuries. Randleman would again fight for the vacant title, but would not come up short this time, as he beat Pete Williams for the UFC heavyweight title in what would be one of the highest points of his storied career.
Randleman would soon make his first title defense against Pedro Rizzo (who was undefeated going into their title fight), and would successfully defend the belt and cement his spot as the best in the UFC.
Randleman lost the title in his next defense, against a returning Couture, but he would go on to have a great career in Pride FC and Strikeforce and would later claim big victories over MMA legends like Renato “Babalu” Sobral and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic. Randleman last fought in a bout in Russia in 2011, which he lost via armbar.
Kevin Randleman was a dominate force in the dark ages of the UFC and will always be fondly remembered for his bleached blonde hair, incredible physique and powerful wrestling that earned him the nickname “the Monster”.
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