The MMA Fighter

With UFC 70 more and more of us are becoming acquainted with this world of men beating up men, getting paid for it and us paying to watch it! In a recent interview with Kevin “The Monster” Randleman I had the opportunity to learn a little more about what these athletes put themselves through in order just to make it to the big stage.

"First and foremost the MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) is a combination of boxing, kick-boxing, ju-jitsu, muay thai, sambo, judo, and wrestling and that’s just to say the least!," Randleman tells us.

Modern mixed MMA emerged in 1993 with the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC), based on the concept of pitting different fighting styles against each other in competition with minimal rules. Although they attempted to determine which system would be more effective in a real, unregulated combat situation.
 

He explains that no one method is better than the other but “a fighter must learn to fight in all situations.”

"It is beneficial for these athletes to learn all styles of martial arts because there is no one method that dominates, but if you learn them all you can yourself can dominate that match.

"For instance if you learn the sport of kick boxing you can kick your opponent at 80 mph and your foot goes through their thigh like butter, there's not much room to prepare, not to mention the amount of time your going to spend rehabbing that thigh!"

Kevin claims with accurate training consisting of lifting, running and yoga your body can learn to absorb the kick.

"MMA fighters are quite aware what the stakes are and what they are getting themselves into when they step in to the ring or cage," says Randleman.  He also went on to say that pain is only temporary.  "You acquire that mentality early on and you have to rid the word “cant” from your vocabulary when it comes to these matches."

Kevin also explained that like any other sport, or lesson in life, there are no shortcuts to success, if it seems too easy then something is probably wrong, in the world of MMA you can never stop learning.

"There are always going to be opponents that are skilled in one area that you are not, the goal is to study your opponents and learn as much about each of the different types of martial arts."

In the world of organized (somewhat) fighting everyone has the opportunity to do well. And while some fighters receive more attention and often higher salaries, it really comes down to marketing. Although its pretty obvious that to be famous Kevin claims you need to “fight to stay in it and beat everyone’s butt!”

Like most sports MMA has had a lot of attention with the recent involvement with Bodog fight and Spike TV’s Ultimate Fighter series. One good fight can increase salaries by the thousands within days! Kevin says:

"The key is to have a signature, something people want to watch, even if you have to get noticed by shaking hands, signing autographs, taking photos with your fans and kissing kids."

He claims that his name and personality, along with his unique fighting style has kept his fan base building for years, worldwide even. Randleman's  website is www.kevinrandleman.com .

He’s been somewhat out of the circuit due to injuries, but he says taking care of his body is his job because his body is what makes him money, he maintains a workout totalling 6-8 hours a day! Something tells me it wont be too long until he’s back and better than ever.

You know what they say, “what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger” and considering he still wants to fight after being out 17 months with broken ribs causing his lungs to puncture ultimately causing them to collapse, causing blood in his chest cavity resulting in fungus growing on his lungs and a staff infection…something tells me Kevin “The Monster” Randleman is truly a fighter in every sense of the word.

Interestingly enough, aside from the constant bloodshed, there has been no deaths and no injuries resulting in leaving the athlete paralyzed…I guess holes in your major organs and getting dropped on your neck, and catching an 80 mph kick to the thigh just come with the territory!

You Can Bet on UFC 70 Here

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Destiney Bleu Lewis, Sports911.com

Originally published April 19, 2007 3:07 pm ET