Kevin Christopher Randleman (August 10, 1971 – February 11, 2016) was an American mixed martial arts fighter and a former UFC Heavyweight Champion. Randleman's background was in collegiate wrestling, and he competed in the heavyweight and light heavyweight classes. Randleman had fought in the UFC, PRIDE, WVR, and Strikeforce. He was previously associated with Mark Coleman's Team Hammer House, before training at Randy Couture's gym in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Background

Randleman was from Sandusky, Ohio and was one of 11 children. He grew up without a lot of money, and often got into street fights growing up. Randleman attended Sandusky High School, started all four years on the football team, ran track in which he qualified for the state finals, and had a 122-11 record while on the wrestling team, including winning the state championship in 1989. Randleman then went to wrestle Ohio State University. His redshirt freshman year he had a string of 42 victories and a first place finish in the Big Ten Tournament, earned All-American status, and dominated in the NCAA tournament, before losing in the tournament final. Randleman then went undefeated during his sophomore year, and won the NCAA tournament. Randleman again won the NCAA tournament in his junior year, despite having his jaw dislocated during the actual tournament. Despite having some of the most amazing three years in the history of collegiate wrestling, including owning the third best winning percentage in Ohio State wrestling history, Randleman became ineligible to wrestle his senior year because of academic issues.

After being offered a professional fight in Universal Vale Tudo Fighting 4 byMark Coleman, one of Randleman's coaches at Ohio State, Randleman accepted and made his MMA debut on October 22, 1996. Randleman was very impressive in his debut, winning the tournament which was three fights, including one against Dan Bobish. On March 3, 1997 at Universal Vale Tudo Fighting 6, he beat Ebenezer Fontes Braga and Mario Neto, but was handed his first loss by Carlos Barreto. Randleman believes there were shady circumstances in his fight with Barreto as he fought two other Brazilians that night who dragged the matches out by escaping the ring and hitting him from outside of the ring.

MMA career

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Randleman fought in the UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions at UFC 19, UFC 20, UFC 23, UFC 26, UFC 28, UFC 31, UFC 35. Beating Maurice Smith to become a top contender, he fought Bas Rutten for the Heavyweight Championship, previously vacated by Randy Couture. Randleman lost via a decision to Rutten, as while Randleman maintained positional superiority with takedowns, it was judged that Rutten was the more active fighter with strikes. This fight became infamous due to Mark Coleman's instructions before the second overtime that Randleman "smear the blood" from the cut he had created above Rutten's nose into his eye, so his opponent couldn't see.

Randleman achieved his goal to become the UFC Heavyweight Champion on November 19, 1999, beating Pete Williamsat UFC 23 for the title (which was vacated upon Rutten's retirement), and successfully defended it against Pedro Rizzo atUFC 26. However, he later lost the title to Randy Couture at UFC 28. After losing the title, he moved down to light heavyweight, feeling it was a more natural weight for his body, but suffered a setback, losing to Chuck Liddell in his first fight at that weight before beating Renato "Babalu" Sobral in his final fight with the UFC.

PRIDE FC

In September 2002, Randleman made his debut in PRIDE FC, taking on Japanese wrestler Michiyoshi Ohara. Randleman acquired an easy victory, as Ohara appeared to have no intention of trying to fight Randleman right from the outset, and even tried to flee and grab the ropes several times in an attempt to avoid damage from Randleman. This match was panned by the audience and Randleman himself, who left the ring before being awarded his trophy, visibly angry.

Throughout the course of 2002, Randleman gained victories over Kenichi Yamamoto (TKO by vicious knee strikes from north-south position) and Murilo "Ninja" Rua (TKO by cutting Rua with tremendous counter left hook). This winning streak would eventually put him in the spot of contender for the PRIDE Middeweight (205 lb) Championship, held by Wanderlei Silva. At Pride 25 Randleman faced another Middleweight contender, fellow American wrestler Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, in a match that determined the number one contender for Silva's belt. In the first round Randleman suffered his first loss in PRIDE, after an incredible knee-uppercut combination from Jackson knocked Randleman down. The Referee stopped the fight after Rampage got dominant position and began landing strikes on Randleman.

Following a submission loss to Kazushi Sakuraba in 2003, Randleman became one of the sixteen participants in the PRIDE 2004 Heavyweight Tournament, alongside teammate Mark Coleman. His first round match up at PRIDE Total Elimination 2004 was against former K-1 kickboxer Mirko Cro Cop Filipović, a participant heavily favored to win the entire tournament. Randleman knocked out "Cro Cop" by ground and pound following a left hook that surprised and knocked him down. In the second round, at PRIDE Critical Countdown 2004, Randleman faced off against the reigning PRIDE Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko. Again a heavy underdog, in a short bout he managed to suplex Fedor onto his head, landing in north south position. This maneuver failed to damage Fedor, who quickly capitalized on Randleman's characteristic failure to inflict damage upon opponents from a dominant position by reversing him and submitting him with a kimura, thereby eliminating him from the tournament.

With his tournament journey over, Randleman went on to square off against friend and fellow American wrestler Ron Waterman at PRIDE Final Conflict 2004, submitting to a keylock in the first round. Randleman picked up and slammed much bigger (6'2 and 280 pounds) Waterman, was ahead on scorecards but made one mistake and lost by Americana(Ude-garami). At PRIDE Shockwave 2004 Randleman offered a rematch to Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipović. Filipovic submitted Randleman in the first round via guillotine choke, avenging his loss and adding another loss to Randleman's losing streak in the process. In the Opening Round of PRIDE's 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix, Kevin Randleman lost to Kazuhiro Nakamura via decision. In November 2005, 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.

Randleman was taken ill with a serious fungal lung infection after his Rotterdam bout that had unknowingly been present for sometime. He underwent a successful surgery to have the infection removed. After recovering, he was scheduled to fight against Vitor Belfort at a Strikeforce event in San Jose, California on June 9, 2006, but was unable to, due to a recurrence of the infection (Belfort instead fought, and lost to, Alistair Overeem, by unanimous decision).

Kevin Randleman returned to PRIDE FC for their first show on American soil, Pride 32: The Real Deal on October 21, 2006, where he was quickly submitted by a kneebar in the first round by 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix Champion Maurício "Shogun" Rua. This match-up was made partly to capitalize on an incident where Mark Coleman fought Rua and broke his arm with a trip takedown. After the referee stopped the fight, a brawl ensued. Chute Boxe and Hammer House members then entered the ring, clashing verbally and physically, creating bad blood between the two teams.

World Victory Road: Sengoku

After one year and seven months of lay off due to kidney problems, a staph infection and suspension, Randleman came back with a unanimous decision over Ryo Kawamura at May 18, 2008 in Sengoku 2.

Randleman's next fight was scheduled to be on June 21, 2008 versus Jeff Monson at the Godz of War; however Randleman injured his shoulder while training. Ricco Rodriguez replaced him and fought Monson, losing a unanimous decision.

Randleman said that he would fight at Sengoku VI in November, but did not. Later, he explained that he injured his shoulder very seriously in his comeback fight vs Ryo Kawamura, so he took a long rest.

On November 7, 2009, Randleman fought Bulgarian prospect Stanislav Nedkov. Randleman started the fight with a good left leg kick and takedown. He used elevators and reversals to avoid damage from Nedkov, when Nedkov made few takedowns. In the 3rd round Randleman repeated his strong left leg kick and used his new blue belt Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills to avoid bottom positions and back immediately to the top positions on the ground. After three rounds the judges rendered a controversial split decision, with one judge for Randleman and two judges for Nedkov.

Strikeforce

At the Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz press conference it was announced that he had finalised the signing of a contract with Strikeforce.

Randleman's Strikeforce debut was on June 6 against journeyman and IFL standout Mike Whitehead at Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields. Randleman looked to grapple immediately in the fight, whilst Whitehead controlled the fight on the feet. Whitehead won the first two rounds using takedowns but Randleman employed the use of reversals very competently to avoid significant damage. In the third round Randleman, having seemingly lost the previous, he threw caution to the wind and loosened his arms, becoming reckless with his strikes, but knocking his opponent down with a left hook to the chin. Randleman charged in to finish Whitehead and landed a few shots to Mike's head, but was unable to capitalize effectively on the knockdown. All 3 judges scored the bout (29–28, 29–28, 29–28) in favor of Mike Whitehead.

Randleman lost to Strikeforce newcomer Roger Gracie via a rear-naked choke in the second round of their light heavyweight bout on May 15, 2010 at Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery. He lost 10 out of his last 13 fights. Following the loss to Russian black belt judoka, Baga Agaev with Agaev submitting Randleman with a modified armbar and dislocating his elbow, Randleman had decided to retire.

Controversy, illness and suspension from fighting

After the bout with Rua, Randleman failed a drug test administered by the Nevada Athletic Commission. Randleman submitted a urine sample lacking any hormones to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. This indicated that the sample was fake. On January 19, 2007, Randleman was hospitalized due to serious damage to his kidneys. In an interview with MMAWeekly, he stated he failed to submit a urine sample due to his use of painkillers and antibiotics after his previous surgeries that may have prevented him from being cleared to fight, and his health issues were a result of the cumulative effects of his surgeries, medication and fighting on his body.

The Nevada Athletic Commission met on February 16, 2007 to discuss the fake sample and revoked Randleman's license to fight. He was able to reapply for a license after October 21, 2007, a year from the date of his loss to Maurício Rua.

DUI arrest

On August 16, 2007, Randleman was arrested in Goodsprings, Nevada, a small community in the desert south of Las Vegas, on a variety of charges, including drunk driving, following an apparent traffic stop.

Professional wrestling career

Randleman debuted in professional wrestling in 2002 as part of All Japan Pro Wrestling's Wrestle-1 project, which brought several mixed martial artists to take part in wrestling matches. Teaming up with Mark Coleman, Randleman wrestledHiroshi Hase and Satoshi Kojima in a losing effort. They returned for the next Wrestle-1 event, defeating the masked tag team of Jan the Giant Convict and Singh the Giant Convict.

In July 2003, Randleman started working for Pro Wrestling Zero-One, teaming up with The Predator to take part in the OH Tag Festival tournament. They performed well, eliminating Yoshiaki Fujiwara and Yuki Ishikawa at the first round and Emblem (Masato Tanaka and Shinjiro Otani) at the second, but they lost in the finals to Naoya Ogawa and Katsuhisa Fujii.

The next year, Randleman started appearing in Zero-One's partner promotion Hustle. Introduced as a member of heelfaction Takada Monster Army and managed by Takada's secretary Ute Werner, Randleman had his first singles match against Wataru Sakata, but he lost despite Werner trying to intervene in his favor. Due to his loss, he was expelled from the Monster Army, so he sought refuge in babyface faction Hustle Army. After two years of inactivity in wrestling, Kevin returned in June 2007, adopting the masked superhero-like persona of "Randleman" and teaming up with fellow superheroes Kintaman and Kurodaman. His former partner Mark Coleman also joined the team, making it a quartet. In September 2007, Randleman had his last apparition in Hustle, defeating Kohei Sato and Piranha Monster alongside Coleman.

In February 2009, Randleman made a challenge to WWE pro-wrestler Kofi Kingston on a St. Louis FOX Sports MMA show called Absolute Wrestling Radio!

Personal life

Kevin married college sweetheart Barbara on August 28, 2000. After hardships, they divorced on May 26, 2005. Kevin married his longtime girlfriend and publicist, the former Elizabeth Broglia on April 25, 2009. He had a son by Tina Black, a daughter by Jayme Hodge and a son by Broglia.

Death

Randleman died on February 11, 2016 due to heart failure after being admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. He was 44 years old.