Dead in 2016, Kevin Randleman is included in the UFC Hall of Fame

K. Randleman (left) in victory over P. Rizzo (right) at UFC 26. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @randleman_tm

One of those responsible for spreading MMA to the world in the 1990s and 2000s, Kevin Randleman was officially included in the UFC Hall of Fame. Dead in 2016, the former fighter received the posthumous honor, which was justified by the organization's president, Dana White.

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“Kevin Randleman was one of the first real athletes, in the early days of the UFC. He was a two-time NCAA Division I national wrestling champion and an All-American at Ohio State University. He was the fifth heavyweight champion (up to 120,2 kg) in UFC history and one of the first athletes to compete successfully in both heavyweight and light heavyweight (up to 93 kg). He was a pioneer of the sport and it is an honor to include him in the 2020 class of the UFC Hall of Fame”, explained the 'boss'.

PUBLICITY:

With a history of excellence in wrestling, Randleman debuted in MMA in October 1996. With 33 appearances in the sport, the American faced big names in the sport, such as Pedro Rizzo, Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell, Quinton jackson, Fedor Emelianenko, Mirko Cro Cop and Mauritius Shogun. The athlete had 17 wins and 16 losses in his career, hanging up his gloves in May 2011.

For Ultimate, Kevin performed on seven occasions, winning four and losing three. The North American won the heavyweight belt in November 1999, when he beat Pete Williams, at UFC 23, and lost the position a year later, to Randy Couture.

PUBLICITY:

Randleman passed away prematurely at the age of 44 after suffering a cardiac arrest resulting from worsening pneumonia.