Issue 003

May 2005

Kevin ‘The Monster’ Randleman

Ohio State wrestler Kevin Randleman (16-10 in MMA) is a three-time NCAA Division 1 Wrestling All-American, two-time NCAA Division 1 Wrestling Champion and a former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight Champion. The Monster trains with wrestling mentor Mark Coleman and the Hammer House in Ohio. Kevin began fighting in 1996 in the Universal Vale Tudo Fighting (UVF) 4 event and won the eight-man Iron Fighter Tournament Champion title. At that time the Brazilians had taken to calling him ‘The Kangaroo’ due to his incredible vertical leaping ability. He returned to the UVF 6 tournament and made it to the semi-finals before losing to UFC and Pride veteran Carlos Barreto by triangle choke. Kevin debuted at UFC 19, beating Maurice Smith and won the heavyweight title at UFC 23 in 1999. He moved down to light-heavyweight in 2001 and left the UFC for Pride that same year.

Tom ‘Big Cat’ Erikson 

Freestyle wrestler Tom Erikson (9-2-1 in MMA) represented the Real American Wrestlers Team (RAW Team) with Frank Trigg and Rico Chiapparelli. At the time, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture and Matt Lindland were also part of the camp. The Big Cat was a 1996 US Olympic Freestyle Wrestling Team alternate and a six-time medalist in the US Nationals and World Cup Championships. The Purdue University wrestling coach is also a two-time All American and NCAA Champion. Erikson began fighting in 1996 at the Martial Arts Reality Superfighting show (MARS), competing in the eight-man tournament and advancing to the final before going to a 40-minute draw with former UFC Middleweight Champion Murilo Bustamante. In 1997 Erikson won the Brazil Open and began competing in Japan where he has fought sporadically ever since.

Lightweight tournament

A four-man tournament took place that night with an impressive cast: Carlson Gracie Sr disciple Crezio de Souza, HammHer House wrestler Eric Smith, Chute Boxe Academy superstar Jose ‘Pele’ Landi-Jons, and wrestler Dan Henderson from the Raw Team. The brackets pitted Henderson against de Souza and Smith against Landi-Jons. Henderson controlled de Souza on the mat and landed strikes on the feet that had the Brazilian looking to his corner for guidance. With Carlson Gracie Sr, a young Vitor Belfort and Wallid Ismail yelling outside the cage, referee and kickboxing champion Mark ‘The Rome’ Zerate had his work cut out for him. In fact, after a premature stoppage that gave the win to Henderson, Zerate was replaced with Jiu-Jitsu instructor Fernando Yamazaki. Eric Smith handed Pele a rare loss (he was 7-1 and won the next 6) and advanced to the tournament final. The title bout was spectacular, with Henderson pulling off the rarely-seen ‘flying guillotine choke’. Dan jumped up on top of Eric and choked Smith unconscious from the standing position!

Heavyweight tournament

The talent pool was not quite as deep in the heavyweight bracket; Brazilian freestyle fighters Homen de Neve and Pantera Negra (Black Panther) competed with Randleman and Erikson. Randleman brutalized de Neve, vanquishing him via an elbow to the head from half mount. Erikson caught a left in the face before power-slamming Negra to the mat. The Big Cat moved at will and eventually pounded Negra from a rear mount with elbows to the back of the head. 

Superfight

In a brief encounter, Carlson Gracie Team fighter Carlos Barreto battled Trap Fighting ‘Polar Bear’ Paul Varelans. At 6’8, Varelans usually towers over his opponents but the 6’5 Barreto had little problem seeing eye to eye with the Alaskan native. In his pre-fight interview the ‘Polar Bear’ states: “It’s not called the ‘Superfight’ for no reason. It’s going to be a fuckin’ super fight.” Well, Carlos charged across the ring and the Brazilian tripped him to the mat. Barreto sat in full mount and beat Varelans until the referee had seen enough. Paul was not a card-carrying member of the Quick Tap Club and this bout was business as usual. 

This one didn’t last long, but he did not tap out.

Also in action was Luta Livre fighter ‘The Pedro’ Otavio against kickboxer Paulão in a preliminary bout. Apparently he set the tone, for it was a night to be elbowed in the face. And for eye candy there was a parade of lovely Brazilian women before the tournament finals. They walked around the cage, smiling and pouting, with one lady being crowned Miss Brazil.

The American way

Randleman and Erikson met in the heavyweight final. It would be the first time that top wrestling camps went head-to-head in a tournament. Ironically, it was the second time that night for such a unique occurrence. And as commentator and former Light Heavyweight Shooto Champion Erik Paulson pointed out: “The Brazilian fighters in the Vale Tudo style fights don’t fight each other. The Jiu-Jitsu [fighter] doesn’t fight jiu-jitsu [fighter] and the Luta Livre [fighter] doesn’t fight the Luta Livre [fighter]. And here we have two Americans from two different wrestling teams fighting each other.”

From the bell, Erikson charged across to cut off the ring. Randleman weaved inside and out, trying to compensate for Erikson’s substantial size and reach advantage (Big Cat is 6’4 and Randleman is 5’10). It was immediately apparent that Erikson would be the stalker and Randleman would need to stay on his toes, timing his shoot and staying just out of reach, if he was to stay alive in this fight. Erikson swiped at him and missed a haymaker right that glanced off the side of the cage as they continued to orbit the Brazilian octagon. 

He’s a pinball wizard

Randleman caught the big man with a straight left and his footwork looked sharp. He darted back and forth like an impatient hummingbird, fluttering in and out and frustrating his lumbering adversary. Erikson was always moving forward and gave no ground. A clinch put Erikson against the fence. Erikson had a front guillotine with the arm and he worked to sink the choke, but Randleman’s diminutive stature (in comparison) worked to his advantage because Erikson was nearly slumped over to maintain grip. Tom threw a knee but there was no advavntage to staying in the clinch and he knew he needed to do something to improve his position.

'The Hammer' falls

Erikson released the choke hold but kept Randleman in close and delivered two devastating knees to the body. He followed up with three rights to the face and a left to the back of the head that sent Randleman crashing to the canvas. In a bizarre scene, Randleman’s body tensed up and, although unconscious, he remained in a fighting position as Erikson landed two more right hands to the face. 

Raw talent

The event wrapped up with The RAW Team taking both the lightweight and heavyweight tournament titles. Randleman was put on a stretcher but regained his composure and refused to let the stretcher pass outside the cage with him on it. Erikson left the cage with a girl in one hand and a trophy in the other, sealing the greatest night of fighting in The RAW Team’s MMA history.