UFC announced that former UFC heavyweight champion Kevin Randleman has been named to the UFC Hall of Fame class for 2020 as a Pioneer. The induction ceremony will take place later this year. Randleman joined New Japan Pro-Wrestling in 2002 when they brought several mixed martial artists and kickboxers to take part in wrestling matches. He was also involved with Pro Wrestling Zero1 along with Hustle.
“Kevin Randleman was one of the first real athletes in the early days of UFC,” UFC President Dana White said. “He was a two-time NCAA Division I National Champion and All-American wrestler at The Ohio State University. He was the fifth heavyweight champion in UFC history and one of the first athletes to successfully compete at both heavyweight and light heavyweight. He was a pioneer of the sport and it’s an honor to induct him into the UFC Hall of Fame Class of 2020.”
Randleman will enter the UFC Hall of Fame as the 17th member of the Pioneer Era wing. The Pioneers Era category includes athletes who turned professional before November 17, 2000 (when the unified rules of mixed martial arts were adopted), are a minimum age of 35, or have been retired for one year or more.
A veteran of 33 professional fights during his 15-year career, Randleman compiled a record of 17-16 (4-3, UFC), including wins over UFC Hall of Famer Maurice Smith, UFC®23: ULTIMATE JAPAN 2 middleweight tournament champion Kenichi Yamamoto and 2006 PRIDE FC world open-weight grand prix champion Mirko Cro Cop.
Randleman passed away during a job interview trip on February 11, 2016 from a heart attack and pneumonia. Check out the tweet and video below for more information on his career and the induction.
A FORCE.
? Kevin Randleman is headed to the #UFCHoF (B2YB @ToyoTires) pic.twitter.com/9cTREWXIK3
— UFC (@ufc) May 17, 2020
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