RIP Kevin Randleman: UFC Heavyweight Legend Passes Away Aged 44

It’s a sad day for the MMA community, as one of the old school legends Kevin Randleman has tragically passed away. In honor of his memory, here are his greatest moments in the sport…

Former UFC heavyweight champion Kevin Randleman was rushed to the hospital late last night with a severe case of pneumonia. After then suffering heart failure, ‘The Monster’ was unable to be revived, and the sport of mixed martial arts has lost a true legend.

Randleman was part of the dark ages of the sport, and fought on until 2011 before retiring with more wins than losses. He was one of the original UFC heavyweight champions, defeating Pete Williams for the title at UFC 23, and defending once against Pedro Rizzo.

Randleman’s journey in to the world of sports started as a youth, wrestling out of Ohio State and winning the division I championship in 1992 & 1993, before making a b-line for MMA in 1996.

‘The Monster’ won the Vale Tudo tournament with three wins on the same night in October of ’96, and a legend was truly born.

The biggest win of Randleman’s career arguably came in 2004, as he faced the cold-blooded K-1 killer Mirko Cro Cop under the famous Pride FC banner. The monstrous finish will live forever in our memories:

 By the later stages of his career, Randleman had faced some of the biggest names in the sport. Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, Murilo and Mauricio Rua, Cro Cop twice, Sakuraba, Chuck Liddell, Bas Rutten, and they all spoke very highly of the former UFC champ.

One of the greatest highlight moments of Randleman’s fighting history also came under the Pride FC banner, as he super-plexed the heavyweight champ Fedor Emelianenko in an all-time classic fight:

So as we tip our hats and say goodbye to one of the sport’s most likeable and respected champions, let’s take a moment to pray for the large family he left behind. RIP Kevin Randleman, ‘The Monster’ will live on forever.

Kevin Randleman MMA accomplishments and awards

• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • UFC Heavyweight Championship (One Time)
  • One successful title defense
  • UFC Road To The Heavyweight Title Tournament Runner Up

• Universal Vale Tudo Fighting
  • UVTF 4 Tournament Champion
  • UVTF 6 Tournament finalist

• Brazil Open
  • Brazil Open ’97 Heavyweight Tournament Runner Up

• Fight Matrix
  • Knockout of the Year (2004) vs. Mirko Filipović on April 25

• FIGHT! Magazine
  • Knockout of the Year (2004) vs. Mirko Filipović on April 25

• MMA Fighting
  • Most Lopsided Upset of the Year (2004