WF: Hello Kevin, first of all thank you for the interview. How are you?
KR: First of all-Thanks you and God bless all the MMA fans from Germany.

WF: January 2007 you were hospitalized due to serious damage of your kidneys. How did ist come to this illness. How would you describe your current health status?
KR: Actually my kidneys were not damage, my CPK levels went through the roof (they are suppose to be 150-mine hit 68,000). For the past year and a half I have had (9) surgeries and have been on intensive medication. After my fight with Shogun I had to have another surgery to try and clear up the reoccurring infection in my shoulder. My doctor put me on a heavy I.V. antibiotic and one of the side effects was elevated CPK levels (the muscle mass surrounding your heart). Once I was off the I.V. medication, my doctor’s told me to take it easy on training. After a few weeks I felt so good, once I was back in the gym, I guess I did to much and caused my body to have a muscle enzyme breakdown. Because my CPK levels were elevated, when I pushed myself and lifted heavy weights, it caused the break down.

As stubborn as I am, I was just anxious to get back to training. After being sick for so many months and not being able to fight, I just want to get healthy and get back in the ring. My health now is at 90%. My levels are down to (500) and I am only training light every other day. My doctor feels that I will be 100% by next month.

WF: What are you doing when yor aren't fighting or training for a fight?
KR: When I am not fighting I enjoy my family and friends. I am blessed with two beautiful kids, an incredible woman and great friends and family. When I am training it keeps me from enjoying them, so I make sure to spend time with them when I am not. I play a lot of chess, board games and enjoy playing X Box 360 on line under Monster 1970.

WF: What was the biggest challenge in your fighting career so far?
KR: So far, by far, my biggest challenge has been trying to come back from the past (17) months of surgeries and set backs. My one true passion in life is fighting. When something you love so much gets taken away >from you, it helps you realize just how important it is to you. I love my job and it is a privilege to be able to fight for a living. I have heard that some people out there have said that I should retire because of all my surgeries. They are crazy. The experience I have gone through has made me hungrier and I will work harder and smarter until I am 100% Monster again.

WF: If you could choose an oponent, who would it be?
KR: It would have to be Mr. Shogun Rua. I realize now that I came back too soon. About (8) weeks before the fight my shoulder blew because the infection had gone septic and I had to have another surgery. I should have pulled out from the fight, but PRIDE was counting on me for their American debut and I had received so many emails off my website from fans saying they had already booked their ticket to come see me. I just didn’t want to let them down and I made a poor decision to fight, when I should have looked out for my health first.

WF: You are known for your "all-or-nothing" mentality, does it effect the results of your fights in a positiv or a negativ way?
KR: Whether you win or loose, every fight should have a positive effect. Of course as an athlete, we all want to win. But for me, my losses have shown many positives for the next fight, because when you figure out what you did wrong, if you’re a smart fighter, you will never make that mistake again. Of course a loss is negative, but learning from mistakes has helped me grow as a fighter.

WF: Who has been the biggest influence in your life and fighting?
KR: The biggest influence for me has been growing up on the streets. I have been through a lot over the years and I have learned so much that I would have to credit the streets for helping to create the Monster. Combined with that, I am so grateful that I participated in sports in school. Getting into wrestling was one of the greatest things I have ever done. Participating in wrestling and football as a kid kept me in shape and focused as well as my first taste of success. Had I have not combined athletics with my street knowledge; my life probably could have taken a turn for the worse at one point. There is no substitute for hands on training.

WF: What are the strengths and weaknesses in your fight game?
KR: One of my strengths is my mentality, because I believe that when I am 100% mentally and physically that I can knock anyone out. If you don’t believe in yourself, you have already defeated yourself. I know this because there are some of my fights where I was my worst enemy.

My weakness is definitely my impatience. I am working on that and learning. Shogun is the perfect example, I was over anxious and when that bell rang I went completely against my game plan. They say patience is a virtue and I am reminding myself that everyday.

WF: Do you want to tell us someting about you that most people don't know about you?
KR: Something that most people don’t know about me is that I am some what claustrophobic in certain situations. I don’t like crowded elevators or very small spaces with too many people.

WF: The most time of your carrer you fought for UFC and Pride. Where did you enjoy fighting most? What are the greatest differences between UFC and Pride?
KR: I really enjoyed fighting for the UFC for many reasons. The Cage is first because it created many options for me and my style of fighting. A bonus was the fact that it was in America and all my family and friends were able to come to the venue to watch me. It was a great time of my life and I look at my championship belt everyday and it makes me hungry to work hard until I am back at the top and fighting for a belt again. I can’t say that I have enjoyed one more than the other because my experience with PRIDE has been a great one. They were a great company to work for and, I am sure you have heard what is going on; it should be interested to see how the merger ends up. Cage or ring, I will be ready to go at the end of this year.

The greatest difference between the two is the UFC uses elbows on the ground where PRIDE can stomp. It just depends on your fighting style if one is better for you than the other. I love to use that cage and that would be a great asset to me if and when I ever get to fight in the ring again.

WF: How do you see the level of UFC fighters in comparison to the fighters of Pride?
KR: I don’t feel that there is a tremendous difference in the level of fighters, just a difference in the rules. Both organizations have great talent. Even with all that is going on right now, I still think it would be great to have a card UFC vs. PRIDE. Putting the best from both up against each other.

WF: What did you feel, when you got UFC heavyweight champion?
KR: That was a great time for me. The belt meant to me that I was the best MMA fighter at the time. As I mentioned earlier I look at that belt every day and it makes me hungry to get back to the top again.

WF: You lost your last fight against Mauricio Rua. What can you tell us about the fight and Rua?
KR: I mentioned in some previous questions about that fight. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Shogun. He is the guy to beat right now in the light heavyweight division. For me, my choice to fight; was my choice and I live with my decision. I just hope when I make my return that I will get another chance to fight him when I am 100%.

WF: In 2004 your defeated Mirko Filipovic in a fight that nobody expected you to win. How did you feel before and after the fight?
KR: I took that fight on two weeks notice, because they had no one to fight him. Everyone told me that I was crazy and that I could not beat him and that just gave me inspiration. I won that fight because I got into that ring knowing that everyone can get beat. You always have to believe in yourself.

WF: In 2000 your fought Randy Couture for the UFC title. What can you say about him and the fight?
KR: Randy is one of the greatest fighters ever to compete in MMA. I have know Randy since our college wrestling days. He is a stand up guy and I am honored to be able to call him my friend. I had no doubt in my mind that he was going to be Sylvia. No disrespect to Tim, but Randy is a warrior. Size doesn’t always matter-remember I am only 5’ 10” and I have been in the ring with people a lot bigger than me. That fight was a battle and we gave the fans a night to remember.

WF: You were part of the dokumentation "Rits Of Passage". How did you feel, while the camera was filiming you? Is there anything you can tell us about the making of the doku. Did you influence the end-product?
KR: I felt very comfortable filming. It was a turning point for me because of some of the things that were addressed. That documentary, to me, speaks for itself.

WF: Your are a wrestler and a MMA Fighter. What du you think about professional wrestling?
KR: I have participated in Japan’s professional wrestling called Hustle/Hustle. The guys were great to work with and the fans really get into it. It was over all a great experience for me and I would do it again if Pride asked me to.

WF: Finally, do you have a message for your fans in Germany, Austria and Switzerland?
KR: I receive messages from my website from many fans in your country and I am honored that you show me such respect. I would like to thank them for all there support over the years, through the good and the bad.

Find a way to do what you love to do. Tough times don’t last, tough people do. When times seem rough, stay positive and set your goals high.

God Bless you all and keep watching. MMA FOR LIFE!!!

Check out my website and send me an email:
www.kevinrandleman.com

Peace,

Kevin Randleman

The Monster

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