What truly defines a comeback?
Is it when someone returns from over a year absence from the sport? Is it when someone returns from multiple serious injuries? Or is it when someone returns from a long suspension?
For Kevin Randleman, the answer is all of the above.
Randleman’s star-crossed career takes a new turn in just a few days when he takes on former Ultimate Fighter contestant Mike Whitehead for the Strikeforce organization. The match-up will be Randleman’s first fight in the United States in close to three years.
The time off has been anything but easy for Randleman. He has been suspended for failing a drug test. He suffered a broken neck, and he also had knee surgery.
Even with all the difficult times he has gone through, the former UFC heavyweight champion is determined to make it back to the top of the MMA world.
“I am going to prove to myself that when I train at my best, nobody can step in the cage with me,” Randleman said.
Randleman has been fighting professionally for close to 13 years. He has not done anything else for a career.
“I was a street fighter before I was anything,” said Randleman. “I wrestled for The Ohio State University. Then, I got into MMA.”
The time away from active competition has given him a chance to refocus.
“I have no chaos in my life,” said Randleman. “The last two or three years I have had nothing but positivity in my life.”
Now, he readies himself for a return to the cage. Randleman wants to get back to where he once was – a champion. He defeated Pete Williams at UFC 23 in November 1999 to win the vacant heavyweight title. Randleman held onto the belt for one year before losing it to Randy Couture.
His next opponent, Whitehead, certainly does not have the same credentials as Couture or many of the other fighters Randleman has gone up against. Randleman’s list of former opponents may be the most star-studded in the history of the sport. It includes Couture, Chuck Liddell, Bas Rutten, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, and Fedor Emelianenko.
Nevertheless, Randleman is taking the fight with Whitehead very seriously. In order to prepare for the match-up, Randleman is training in all aspects of the sport.
“I am in the best shape of my career,” Randleman said. “My jiu-jitsu is the best it’s ever been. That was the weakest part of my game.”
Even though he has improved on the ground, Randleman knows his own limitations.
“I’m not going to try to put Mike Whitehead in any submissions because he’s better at that than me. He’s been doing that for a long time.”
Should Randleman get past Whitehead, he intends to stay very busy. He has three fights on his Strikeforce contract and an additional two fights with the Japanese-based Sengoku organization.
“I want to fight at least five times in the next twelve months,” Randleman said.
Staying busy fighting will definitely be a change for the Randleman. Save for a victory over Ryo Kawamura in May of 2008 in Japan, Randleman has been out of action since his October 2006 with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. After that fight, Randleman’s drug test results revealed that he provided the Nevada State Athletic Commission with a bogus urine sample.
“The bottom line is I faked my urine,” Randleman said. “I went to some place and got a fake ‘thing’. I went and bought some stuff and put it in there. I never faked a test before so I didn’t know what I was doing, and I got caught.”
Even though Randleman was rightfully suspended by the NSAC, he is doing something correctly that many star athletes of recent years have not. He owns up to it.
“I made my bed. I made a bad decision,” said Randleman. “I apologize to all the fans for losing your respect, but I plan on gaining the respect after taking every test and passing. I will have a test before every fight I have in America.”
Starting with Whitehead on Saturday, Randleman will have the chance to prove he is clean. He’ll also be able to show the MMA world he is injury-free and that the long layoff helped make him a great fighter again.
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