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Kevin Randleman (R.I.P.)

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Savante

Savante

The Ruler's Back
I don't know what BP posters (if any) are in to MMA, but I thought I'd post this here and see what people think.

Kevin Randleman used to wrestle at Ohio State in the early 90's, I believe. He won a few national championships, and then has moved on to the world of Mixed Martial Arts. Randleman spent his early career in UFC, but after failing to gain too much momentum, he moved to Pride FC in Japan, where black people are VERY popular. I'm just being honest -- black MMA fighters get over so easily in wrestling companies, and guys like Bob Sapp with no talent are sooo popular. Probably the most popular MMA fighter in Japan right now is Quinton Jackson, mostly because he's good, but because, for whatever reason, Japanese fans really like African-Americans.

Anyway, Randleman started to get some momentum, winning a couple fights, and as recent as six months ago, he took down the baddest SOB in Pride (not the best fighter but certainly the baddest), Mirko Cro Crop, getting a takedown and some hammer blows (basically, imagine what a big man pounding on a nail with his hands would look like), knocking him out. As a result, Randleman advanced in their heavyweight tournament.

Sadly, between that fight and his next one, Randleman's father passed away. On the next Pride show they did a really nice tribute to his dad, showing Randleman talking about him for like five minutes, and showing a bunch of places on campus, specifically Larkins. Randleman came out that night like a man POSSESSED, taking it to Pride's best fighter, Fedor Emelianko.. like.. this:

fedor_randleman.gif


SICK. Unfortunately, Fedor is NOT HUMAN, and rolled through the suplex (even though he should be dead) and made Kevin tap out about 3 seconds later.

Well.. last night, it was looking good for Kev. He fought Ron "H2O" Waterman, an experienced but not overly talented fighter. Kevin totally had him, and then, inexplicably, tried to roll over to his back and get a choke, but Waterman blocked the move and got an armbar for the finish. Things just aren't going that well for Kevin, but hopefully his next Pride fight will change things and I'll be all over www.sherdog.com gloating about him!

Anyway, let me know what you think and if you have any questions!
 
I knew Randleman in college. He was one crazy MF. He threw away what could've been an immortal college wrestling career.

Dan Gable once said that he wished he had "half the talent of Kevin Randleman."

Randleman will become an Ohio Urban Legend.
 
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Sloopy45 said:
I knew Randleman in college. He was one crazy MF. He threw away what could've been an immortal college wrestling career.

Dan Gable once said that he wished he had "half the talent of Kevin Randleman."

Randleman will become an Ohio Urban Legend.
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What do you mean, threw away? Did I miss something? He won two national titles in 92-93 and finished second in 91.. I think he pretty much WAS immortal.
 
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Wow, I just assumed he was there all four years. Second in the NCAA as a freshman? Insane.

It might be true. I can't find anything on the web about it. I know that he was in the Olympic training for a while -- maybe he left to do that?
 
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I used to play hoops w/ Kevin at the Sandusky YMCA. Talk about hand checking, you could not drive past him - unfricken believable. Dude was strong as hell - legs, arms, everything. Always had a smile on his face and seemed like a great guy. The only time I tried posting him up, it was nothing but breakfast cereal..all I heard was snap, crackle, and pop from him swatting my arms, hands, ball etc. I became 100% perimeter when he guarded me.
 
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Pretty sure Randleman did flunk off the team for his Senior year, when he was the overwhelming favorite to repeat as national champ.

Savante--I'm assuming you've seen the old Ultimate Fighting match that pitted Randleman against Bas Rutten. Rutten being awarded the decision in that match was utter bullshit. Randleman beat him down. I felt like that really swung the momentum in the other direction for Randleman, but he eventually came out of it. Hopefully he will do so again, because he is certainly that good. I've never seen someone with legs that--maybe Barry Sanders--but no one else.
 
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JohnnyCockfight said:
Pretty sure Randleman did flunk off the team for his Senior year, when he was the overwhelming favorite to repeat as national champ.

Savante--I'm assuming you've seen the old Ultimate Fighting match that pitted Randleman against Bas Rutten. Rutten being awarded the decision in that match was utter bullshit. Randleman beat him down. I felt like that really swung the momentum in the other direction for Randleman, but he eventually came out of it. Hopefully he will do so again, because he is certainly that good. I've never seen someone with legs that--maybe Barry Sanders--but no one else.
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That's the one problem I have with MMA -- there's usually a match every UFC show that I can say had a bad decision. There wasn't one this past show (too many KOs), but there was one in Pride the same weekend. It's pretty frustrating. Rutten didn't really win that match, Randleman did.

The thing about Kev, is he's never going to be a top guy. He's aggressive, but either not enough (as seen against Waterman) or stupidly so (as seen against Fedor). Speculation is . He can always get in and shock somebody like Cro Crop or Maurice Smith, but against guys like Rampage Jackson, Fedor, Randy Couture and Chuck Lidell, he doesn't have it. Here's his fight results, though: http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?fighterid=162

Not too shabby.
 
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KentStateBuck said:
Forgive me for asking, but what does sonned mean? I looked in the dictionary and it wasn't there.
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I don't know if that's supposed to be a bit of a jab at me for using slang, but I'll inform you, regardless...

It means to abuse, to use, to destroy, basically. It's kind of a term that's a bit prevalant in MMA, just in reference to somebody getting beat pretty badly. Whereas somebody might say "WHO'S YOUR DADDY?" after they destroyed somebody.. the person they destroyed got sonned.

I met Randleman briefly after the game. VERY nice guy, class act, and he was shocked I knew him from his MMA days and not just OSU. Even though he didn't leave under the best of circumstances, he's still a hell of a guy.
 
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With all the personal struggles he has had I still have hope he developes his bjj and makes a run at the UFC lhw title. He belongs in a cage rather than a ring. There is no escape from his GNP when his opponent is pinned against the cage. If his stand up gets better I think he could shake some things up. I know he is a better fighter than Keith Jardine, Forrest Griffin, and Tito Ortiz.
 
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