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Kevin Randleman

Training Style

"I’m training in Columbus with Mark. I’m not doing any weight training. It’s all body on body. I’m working on the things I’m not as good at like groundwork and striking. I’m training with Jiu-Jitsu guys and strikers. I will be a complete fighter. I got tired against Couture. I was in a bad relationship and it affected me. I didn’t train like I should. I’m out of the relationship now. Now all I do is train and think about beating Chuck Liddell.".”

UFC History

UFC 19 Ultimate Young Guns
Debuted against former UFC Heavyweight Champ Maurice Smith. Kevin won a clear-cut unanimous judges decision.

UFC 20
Kevin fought Bas Rutten for the vacant UFC World Heavyweight title. Kevin lost a controversial split decision. Randleman dominated early taking Bas down repeatedly and busting up his eye but he tired toward the end of the fight and Bas picked up the pace from the guard. Kevin’s inactivity at the end of the fight cost him the decision.

UFC 23
Kevin defeated Lion's Den fighter, Pete Williams, by decision after 5 five-minute rounds. Kevin started well getting a takedown and looking to ground and pound inside of Pete's guard. With about 35 seconds left in the first round, Pete got to his feet and unleashed a flurry of punches that knocked Randleman down. Pete ended up on top of Randleman but he was in a weird position and had a hard time finding Randleman's head. Pete mounted Randleman with about 14 seconds to go and started raining down punches. The round ended and Randleman chose to remain on the mat for about forty seconds. Kevin recovered and took control of the rest of the fight and won a unanimous decision to become the UFC World Heavyweight Champion.

Kevin was scheduled to defend his title against Pedro Rizzo at UFC 24 but suffered an injury backstage and the match was postponed.

UFC 26
Randleman defeated Pedro Rizzo by Unanimous Decision after 5 rounds in a match that did not see much offense from either fighter.

UFC 28
Kevin fought former heavyweight champion Randy Couture. Kevin started off strong but began to fade and ended up losing by a referee stoppage due to punches on the ground in 4:13 of the third round.

UFC 31
Randleman defeated by Chuck Liddell - knockout in 1:18 of Round 1 (punches)

UFC 35: Throw Down
Kevin defeated Renato "Babalu" by unanimous decision

More Information

Kevin started wrestling at ten years old. He won the State championship in high school; he wrestled for Ohio State; he won the Big Ten Championship 3 times, and won the Nationals twice. He was on the Olympic Developmental program. Kevin’s college coach and roommate was Mark Coleman. Kevin now fights for Mark Coleman’s Hammer House team. "Mark Coleman was an integral part of my success as a wrestler in college. He was my coach. He was the one who was there. We lived together for 2 to 3 years when he was training for the Olympics and I was training for the Nationals and it was good because we always pushed each other. He gave me that hard nosed attitude of the weight training and pushing through the pain."

Kevin’s MMA record is 9 and 5.

When asked how he became involved with MMA Kevin says, "I was sitting at home with my son in Sandusky and Mark calls. I had not been training but I had been lifting weights. It was 8 o’clock at night and he asked me if I would be interested in fighting. He asked me if I was in shape. I asked him why and he said because there was a fight and I knew that he had been fighting in the UFC and we had talked about it before. He told me the price and I said "Yep" and he said, "there is a ticket for you at the airport. We need you here in the morning. The fight is in 24 days." I went up to Phoenix to train and then I fought in Brazil."

In Brazil he defeated UFC veterans Ebenezer Braga, Geza Kahlman, Jr. and Dan Bobish and had losses to Carlos Barreto and Tom Erickson. He feels there were shady circumstances in his fight with Barreto. He fought two other Brazilians that night who dragged the matches out by escaping the ring and hitting him from outside the ring. He said it was hard fighting Tom because they knew each other, but he would fight him again to avenge the loss. "If the money is right I’ll fight anyone."

Even though Randleman is a wrestler, he loves to strike. "I like to strike. Period. I grew up fighting and the guy with the best hands won. You have to be versatile. I’m comfortable standing up. Being in great shape allows me to stay mentally sharp for 20 minutes. I can punch, wrestle, use submission. Whatever I need to do. I am very adaptable"

On fighting in the new Light Heavyweight class: "I was a middleweight fighting heavyweights. I wasn’t as aggressive because the guys were so big. Now I’m fighting guys my size. I’m quicker, faster, and more fearless than any 205 pounder out there. I’m going to be very aggressive. I’m not backing up against anyone. I’m going to go through all of them, Tito Ortiz included. I will hold that belt."