Kevin Randleman, American mixed martial arts fighter, Died at 44

Kevin Christopher Randleman was born on August 10, 1971, and died on February 11, 2016.

He was an American mixed martial arts fighter and a former UFC Heavyweight Champion.

His background was in collegiate wrestling, and he competed in the heavyweight and light heavyweight classes.

He had fought in the UFC, PRIDE, WVR, and Strikeforce.

Kevin was previously associated with Mark Coleman’s Team Hammer House, before training in Randy Couture’s gym in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Kevin grew up without a lot of money and often got into street fights growing up.

Kevin 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.

During his term as a 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.

Kevin went unbeaten during his sophomore year and won the NCAA tournament.

He then again won the NCAA tournament in his junior year, despite having his jaw dislocated during the actual tournament.

Despite Kevin has 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.

Following his proposal to take part in a professional fight in Universal Value Tudo Fighting 4 by Mark Coleman, one of Randleman’s coaches at Ohio State, Randleman accepted and made his MMA debut on October 22, 1996.

He was very impressive in his debut, winning the tournament, which was three fights, including one against Dan Bobish.

Following 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.

He was convinced there were some 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.

Kevin Randleman passed away at 44 yrs old.