History of Kevin Randleman in Timeline

Kevin Christopher Randleman was an accomplished American mixed martial artist and professional wrestler. Notably, he was a two-time NCAA Division I and three-time Big Ten wrestling champion during his time at Ohio State University. He competed in both the heavyweight and light heavyweight classes in MMA, fighting for organizations such as the UFC, PRIDE, WVR, and Strikeforce. In 2020, he was posthumously inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame's pioneer wing, marking a historic first for the organization.

August 10, 1971: Birth of Kevin Randleman

Kevin Christopher Randleman was born on August 10, 1971. This marks the beginning of the life of the future MMA and wrestling champion.

1989: Ohio State High School Wrestling Championship

In 1989, Kevin Randleman won the state wrestling championship while on his high school wrestling team.

October 22, 1996: Debut at UVF 4 and Tournament Win

On October 22, 1996, Kevin Randleman made his MMA debut at UVF 4. He won against Luiz Carlos Maciel, Geza Kalman, and Dan Bobish, securing the tournament victory.

1996: Entry into Mixed Martial Arts

Kevin Randleman stepped into the world of mixed martial arts in 1996 when he accepted Mark Coleman's offer to join Team Hammer House and compete in the Universal Vale Tudo Fighting 4 in Brazil.

March 1997: UVF 6: Victory against Ebenezer Fontes Braga

In March 1997, at UVF 6, Kevin Randleman faced a tough challenge against Ebenezer Fontes Braga. Despite Braga's resilience and a controversial moment involving Braga leaving the ring, Randleman secured a unanimous decision victory after 20 minutes of intense fighting.

June 1997: Brazil Open-'97 and Loss Against Tom Erikson

Kevin Randleman participated in Brazil Open-'97 in June 1997, where he won against Gustavo Homem de Neve but lost to Tom Erikson via knockout after a series of powerful strikes.

November 19, 1999: UFC Heavyweight Championship Victory

On November 19, 1999, Kevin Randleman achieved a significant milestone in his career by defeating Pete Williams at UFC 23, earning him the title of UFC Heavyweight Champion.

August 28, 2000: Marriage to Barbara

On August 28, 2000, Kevin Randleman married Barbara.

September 29, 2002: Pride Fighting Championships Debut and Victory against Michiyoshi Ohara

Kevin Randleman debuted at Pride Fighting Championships on September 29, 2002, securing a victory against Michiyoshi Ohara, who seemed reluctant to engage in the fight.

2002: Ohio State University Wrestler of the Century Nomination

Despite academic challenges ending his wrestling career at Ohio State University prematurely, Kevin Randleman's exceptional performance earned him the nomination for Ohio State University Wrestler of the Century in 2002.

2002: Professional Wrestling Debut in All Japan Pro Wrestling

In 2002, Randleman debuted in professional wrestling as part of All Japan Pro Wrestling's Wrestle-1 project. He teamed with Mark Coleman in a tag team match.

2002: Victories, Title Contender Status, and Loss Against Quinton Jackson

Throughout 2002, Kevin Randleman continued to achieve victory in PRIDE against Kenichi Yamamoto and Murilo "Ninja" Rua, earning him the spot of contender for the Pride Middleweight Championship. However, he faced his first loss in PRIDE against Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.

July 2003: Pro Wrestling Zero-One's OH Tag Festival

In July 2003, Randleman joined Pro Wrestling Zero-One, participating in the OH Tag Festival tournament with The Predator. They reached the finals but lost to Naoya Ogawa and Katsuhisa Fujii.

2003: Last Match Against Kazushi Sakuraba and Car Accident

In 2003, Kevin Randleman faced Kazushi Sakuraba in his last match, just three months after a severe car accident that left him with a serious head injury. Despite the accident, he was medically cleared to fight but lost to Sakuraba via submission.

2004: PRIDE Final Conflict and Shockwave

Following the tournament, in 2004, Randleman lost to Ron Waterman at PRIDE Final Conflict and suffered a rematch loss against Mirko Cro Cop at PRIDE Shockwave.

2004: PRIDE 2004 Heavyweight Tournament

In 2004, Randleman participated in the PRIDE 2004 Heavyweight Tournament. He scored an upset victory against Mirko Cro Cop but lost to Fedor Emelianenko in the second round.

May 26, 2005: Divorce from Barbara

Kevin Randleman and Barbara divorced on May 26, 2005 after facing hardships.

November 2005: Bushido Europe: Rotterdam Rumble

In November 2005, Randleman broke his losing streak with a victory against Fatih Kocamis at Bushido Europe: Rotterdam Rumble.

2005: PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix

Randleman's match against Rua at PRIDE 32 was influenced by an incident involving Mark Coleman, who broke his arm during the 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix, leading to a brawl between their respective teams.

June 9, 2006: Strikeforce Event Cancellation

Randleman was scheduled to fight Vitor Belfort at a Strikeforce event on June 9, 2006, but he couldn't compete due to a recurring fungal lung infection.

October 21, 2006: PRIDE 32: The Real Deal

On October 21, 2006, Randleman returned to PRIDE at PRIDE 32: The Real Deal, where he lost to Maurício "Shogun" Rua via submission.

January 19, 2007: Hospitalization and Drug Test Issue

On January 19, 2007, Randleman was hospitalized for kidney problems. He also faced scrutiny for submitting a fake urine sample after his fight with Rua, attributing it to his use of painkillers and antibiotics.

February 16, 2007: License Revocation

On February 16, 2007, the Nevada Athletic Commission revoked Randleman's fighting license due to the fake urine sample, with the possibility of reapplication after October 21, 2007.

June 2007: Return to Hustle Wrestling

Randleman returned to Hustle wrestling in June 2007, adopting the persona of "Randleman" and teaming with Kintaman, Kurodaman, and later Mark Coleman.

September 2007: Last Appearance in Hustle

In September 2007, Randleman made his final appearance in Hustle, teaming with Coleman to defeat Kohei Sato and Piranha Monster.

2007: Life-Threatening Staph Infection

In 2007, Randleman battled a near-fatal staph infection that caused organ shutdown and left him in a coma.

May 18, 2008: Return to Fighting

After a 1 year and 7-month hiatus due to health issues and suspension, Randleman returned to fighting on May 18, 2008, and defeated Ryo Kawamura at Sengoku 2.

June 21, 2008: Fight Cancellation Due to Injury

Randleman was scheduled to fight Jeff Monson on June 21, 2008, but withdrew due to a shoulder injury sustained during training.

2008: Supporting the Troops in Iraq

In 2008, while in Iraq, Kevin Randleman showed his support for US Army troops by participating in a Modern Army Combatives tournament, demonstrating ground techniques, and taking time to interact with soldiers.

February 2009: Challenge to Kofi Kingston

On a St. Louis FOX Sports MMA show in February 2009, Randleman challenged WWE wrestler Kofi Kingston.

April 25, 2009: Marriage to Elizabeth Broglia

On April 25, 2009, Kevin Randleman married his longtime girlfriend and publicist, Elizabeth Broglia.

November 7, 2009: Controversial Loss to Stanislav Nedkov

On November 7, 2009, Randleman fought Stanislav Nedkov at Sengoku 11, losing a controversial split decision.

May 15, 2010: Loss to Roger Gracie and Retirement

Randleman lost to Roger Gracie at Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery on May 15, 2010. After a series of losses, culminating in a loss against Baga Agaev where he dislocated his elbow, Randleman decided to retire.

February 11, 2016: Passing of Kevin Randleman

Kevin Randleman passed away on February 11, 2016. His legacy in the world of MMA and wrestling continues to live on.

May 16, 2020: Posthumous UFC Hall of Fame Induction

On May 16, 2020, Kevin Randleman was posthumously inducted into the pioneer wing of the UFC Hall of Fame, marking the first time a fighter received this honor.