Kevin Randleman dead: Former UFC heavyweight champion dies aged 44
Randleman was admitted to hospital on Thursday with phneumonia before suffering heart failure
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Former UFC heavyweight champion Kevin Randleman has died at the age of 44 after suffering heart failure caused by pneumonia.
The 44-year-old, who was married to former publicist Elizabeth Broglia and the father of four, was admitted to hospital in San Diego on Thursday after suffering from pneumonia. It was later reported that he had died from heart failure.
A statement released by Randleman’s family on his official Facebook page read: “With saddened hearts, the Randleman family confirms the passing of Kevin “The Monster” Randleman.
With saddened hearts, the Randleman family confirms the passing of Kevin “The Monster” Randleman. Behind the name, was...
Posted by KEVIN THE MONSTER RANDLEMAN on Friday, 12 February 2016
“Behind the name, was a gentle soul & loyal friend whom will be missed by many who loved him beyond the cage. The Ohio State University, UFC, MMA, & Sandusky, Ohio communities share in the loss of Kevin’s passing.
“While traveling on business, Kevin became ill & unexpectedly passed due to complications from pneumonia. Kevin leaves behind a wife & four extraordinary children to share his legacy with the world who mourns his passing. Life without “The Monster” will never be the same.
“The family requests respect & privacy during this difficult time. Kevin’s family is grateful for the outpour of Love & support.”
A star in both UFC and Pride, Randleman first challenged for the UFC heavyweight championship in 1999 in the same year as his debut in the company, and despite losing to Bas Rutten, he would beat Pete Williams to clinch the vacant title in November at UFC 23 following Rutten’s retirement.
After successfully defending the championship against Pedro Rizzo, Randleman lost to UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture at UFC 28, and elected to move down to light heavyweight for the remainder of his UFC career.
He suffered a loss to another Hall of Famer in Chuck Liddell in his opening light heavyweight bout, before defeating Renato Sobral in his final UFC appearance that then triggered a move to Pride.
Known as “The Monster”, Randleman achieved his greatest victory in Pride in 2002 when he knocked out Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic in the first round in what remains one of the biggest upsets in MMA history.
Randleman retired in 2011 after continuing to fight in the Strikeforce promotion, leaving the sport with a record of 17 wins and 16 losses, and he was in attendance at the World MMA Awards in Las Vegas just last week.
UFC president Dana White led the tributes to Randleman, with many fighters down the years paying their respects to the former world champion, and White chose to dedicate his regular “Dana White’s Clip of the Day” to Randleman by including his brutal suplex takedown of Fedor Emelianenko.
A photo posted by Chuck Liddell (@chuckliddell) on
A photo posted by Urijah Faber (@urijahfaber) on
Randleman married his college girlfriend Barbara in August 2000 before they divorced in May 2005, and he married Broglia in April 2009.
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